Tag: Firefly Aerospace
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Firefly Aerospace announces contract with L3Harris for up to 20 launches on Alpha rocket
A streak shot of Firefly Aerospace’s fifth launch of its Alpha rocket on a mission named “Noise of Summer.” Image: Firefly Aerospace/Sean Parker Coming on the heels of another large launch deal, Firefly Aerospace announced it sold up to 20 flights on its Alpha rocket to L3Harris. The agreement would see these missions fly between…
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Rocket Report: Firefly’s CEO steps down; Artemis II core stage leaves factory
Welcome to Edition 7.03 of the Rocket Report! One week ago, SpaceX suffered a rare failure of its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket. In fact, it was the first time the latest version of the Falcon 9, known as the Block 5, has ever failed on its prime mission after nearly 300 launches. The world’s launch…
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Feds who forced Ukrainian investor to sell rocket company backtrack years later
A long, messy affair between US regulators and a Ukrainian businessman named Max Polyakov seems to have finally been resolved. On Tuesday, Polyakov’s venture capital firm Noosphere Venture Partners announced that the US government has released him and his related companies from all conditions imposed upon them in the run-up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.…
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Rocket Report: Firefly delivers for NASA; Polaris Dawn launching this month
Welcome to Edition 7.01 of the Rocket Report! We’re compiling this week’s report a day later than usual due to the Independence Day holiday. Ars is beginning its seventh year publishing this weekly roundup of rocket news, and there’s a lot of it this week despite the holiday here in the United States. Worldwide, there…
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Firefly Aerospace Successfully Deploys Cubesats on Return of Alpha Rocket
Firefly Aerospace achieved a successful mission by deploying eight cubesats into orbit aboard its Alpha rocket, marking the rocket’s return to flight since encountering an upper stage malfunction over six months ago. The Alpha rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:04 a.m. Eastern on July 4, following a brief delay…
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Firefly is building fast and breaking things on path to a reusable rocket
BRIGGS, Texas—The new medium-lift rocket under development by Firefly Aerospace and Northrop Grumman will eventually incorporate a recoverable booster that will return to its launch site in Virginia for reuse. Firefly has previously suggested rocket reuse is on the roadmap for the new rocket—known, for now, only as the Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV)—but officials revealed…
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Firefly launches Alpha rocket on NASA mission
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha FLTA005 rocket stands at Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) in support of the “Noise of Summer” mission. Image: Firefly Aerospace / Sean Parker Update 12:05 a.m.: Liftoff occurred on time this evening. Firefly Aerospace took more time before rescheduling its fifth Alpha rocket following a last minute ground systems issue Monday night.…
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Firefly Aerospace to Launch Alpha Rocket from Sweden’s Esrange Space Centre
Firefly Aerospace, a prominent U.S. space transportation company, has forged an agreement with the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) to conduct launches of its Alpha rocket from the Esrange Space Centre in northern Sweden. The collaborative announcement on June 27 marks a significant step towards expanding orbital launch capabilities in Europe. According to SSC, launches of…
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Rocket Report: China flies reusable rocket hopper; Falcon Heavy dazzles
Welcome to Edition 6.50 of the Rocket Report! SpaceX launched its 10th Falcon Heavy rocket this week with the GOES-U weather satellite for NOAA, and this one was a beauty. The late afternoon timing of the launch and atmospheric conditions made for great photography. Falcon Heavy has become a trusted rocket for the US government,…
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Firefly Aerospace doubles Texas footprint to support testing of Antares 330, MLV rocket
Firefly’s new MLV manufacturing and integration building in Bertram, Texas. Image: Firefly Aerospace In the months following its fourth flight of it Alpha rocket, Firefly Aerospace continues to push forward with work on two new rockets in partnership with Northrop Grumman. On Wednesday, Firefly is set to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking a manufacturing expansion…