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<\/p>\nAs Firefly Aerospace prepares for its upcoming Alpha rocket launches, work continues apace on its next-generation Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV) rocket with its Miranda and Vira engines, utilizing its Briggs test site in Texas. MLV\u2019s Chief Engineer, Miles Gray, showed NSF around the test site to update the status of the new vehicle and engines while also noting the vehicle is being designed with reusability in mind, involving a recovery that follows a similar path as SpaceX\u2019s Starship Mechazilla catch system.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Since its revival in early 2017, the Texas-based company Firefly Aerospace has been hard at work staking its claim in the small satellite launch market. Having developed, tested, and flown its Alpha launch vehicle multiple times, Firefly is bolstering itself with other end-to-end systems, including on-orbit management and lunar services.<\/p>\n
Now, Firefly is taking the next step toward building and launching bigger rockets with its Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV).<\/p>\n
For Firefly, MLV will serve as a testament to the company\u2019s growth over the years in terms of size and scope of capabilities. Whereas Alpha stands at 29.5 m in height, MLV will tower above it at 55.7 m; Alpha can launch just over 1,000 kg to low-Earth orbit (LEO), with MLV capable of up to 16,300 kg.<\/p>\n
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An artistic render of Firefly\u2019s Medium Launch Vehicle\/MLV in flight. (Credit: Firefly Aerospace)<\/p>\n
While Firefly had to develop and construct the Alpha rocket independently as an in-house product, the company will receive substantial assistance on MLV from a major aerospace player.<\/p>\n
In cooperation with Northrop Grumman, Firefly is knee-deep in developing MLV, with qualification testing on its carbon composite structures already underway. Said structures are scaled mainly up from those that make up the construction of the smaller Alpha rocket.<\/p>\n
As seen as a key future consideration of the spaceflight industry, at least since SpaceX proved the technology, Firefly is also looking at reusability with MLV. The company has already downselected how they will approach this goal.<\/p>\n
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