As Firefly's second responsive space
operation, Fly the Lightning will get on-orbit capabilities into
the hands of U.S. warfighters faster
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE,
Calif., Dec. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Firefly
Aerospace, an end-to-end space transportation company, today
announced its Alpha FLTA004 Fly the Lightning mission is prepared
to launch no earlier than December 20
with backup dates through December
22, depending on local weather. The daily 20-minute launch
window will open at 9:18 am PST.
The Fly the Lightning mission will deploy an Electronically
Steered Antenna (ESA) payload developed by Lockheed Martin to
demonstrate rapid delivery of on-orbit capabilities for U.S.
warfighters. As a secondary objective, the mission team will
further demonstrate responsive space capabilities by tracking and
improving the total working hours required from payload receival to
launch readiness compared to Alpha FLTA003, the record-breaking
VICTUS NOX mission.
"On the heels of our successful Alpha launch for the U.S Space
Force, the Firefly team will continue to push the limits and set
new standards in the industry, operating at a rapid pace for Alpha
FLTA004 and future missions in response to the needs of our
customers," said Bill Weber, CEO of
Firefly Aerospace. "This team is utilizing lessons from our VICTUS
NOX mission to fundamentally change how quickly both government and
commercial customers can process their payloads and launch assets
to space."
During the final launch operations, the team will transport the
payload faring to the launch pad and mate it to Firefly's Alpha
rocket using similar responsive operations to VICTUS NOX. The
launch is being observed by members of the U.S. Space Force
Tactically Responsive Space team to inform future missions and the
requirements for repeatable on-demand launch capabilities.
"Through the VICTUS NOX demonstration, the Space Force proved
the United States can rapidly
respond to national security threats in space on an unprecedented
timeline," said Lt. Col. Justin
Beltz, Materiel Leader and Chief of the Small Launch and
Targets Division of the U.S. Space Force. "We're now focused on
transforming Tactically Responsive Space from a groundbreaking
achievement into a repeatable capability. By partnering with
Firefly to observe Alpha FLT004, we can continue to build synergy
with commercial industry and further define the training,
infrastructure, and operational requirements for long-term
repeatability."
Fly the Lightning will launch from Firefly's SLC-2 complex at
the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Firefly's new payload processing
facility at its launch site allows the team to rapidly fuel and
integrate payloads in a clean room environment. The company's
flight-proven Alpha rocket, lifting more than 1,000 kg to low Earth
orbit, further enables direct, on-demand deliveries when and where
customers need to fly.
"What we're most excited about is that this mission features
several firsts – a new payload, built rapidly in a new way, with
Firefly as a new launch partner," said Bob
Behnken, director of Technology Acceleration for Lockheed
Martin's Ignite organization. "This also marks the first of our
self-funded technology demonstrations through Lockheed Martin's
Ignite organization, created to accelerate development projects
like this, push limits and expand capabilities for customers."
Lockheed Martin's ESA demonstrator payload, integrated on a
Terran Orbital Nebula small satellite bus, was developed by the
company's Ignite organization, which was stood up to focus on
exploratory research and development, accelerate the pace of
technology development, and introduce new product innovations.
For more details on the Alpha FLTA004 Fly the Lightning mission
and livestream, visit
https://fireflyspace.com/missions/fly-the-lightning/.
About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is an
end-to-end space transportation company with launch, lunar, and
on-orbit services. Headquartered in central Texas, Firefly is a portfolio company
of AE Industrial Partners ("AEI") focused
on delivering responsive, reliable, and affordable space access for
government and commercial customers. Firefly's small- to
medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and
orbital vehicles provide the space industry with a single source
for missions from low Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and
beyond. For more information,
visit www.fireflyspace.com.
Contact
press@fireflyspace.com
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SOURCE Firefly Aerospace, Inc.
