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Firefly Aerospace, an end-to-end space transportation company, 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. <\/p>\n
As a secondary objective, the mission team will further demonstrate responsive space capabilities by tracking and improving the total working hours required from payload received to launch readiness compared to Alpha FLTA003, the record-breaking VICTUS NOX mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn 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,\u201d said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace<\/strong>. \u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n During the final launch operations, the team will transport the payload faring to the launch pad and mate it to Firefly\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough the VICTUS NOX demonstration, the Space Force proved the United States can rapidly respond to national security threats in space on an unprecedented timeline,\u201d said Lt. Col. Justin Beltz, Materiel Leader and Chief of the Small Launch and Targets Division of the U.S. Space Force<\/strong>. \u201cWe\u2019re 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 the commercial industry and further define the training, infrastructure, and operational requirements for long-term repeatability.\u201d<\/p>\n Fly the Lightning will launch from Firefly\u2019s SLC-2 complex at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Firefly\u2019s new payload processing facility at its launch site allows the team to rapidly fuel and integrate payloads in a clean room environment. The company\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat we\u2019re most excited about is that this mission features several firsts \u2013 a new payload, built rapidly in a new way, with Firefly as a new launch partner,\u201d said Bob Behnken, director of Technology Acceleration for Lockheed Martin\u2019s Ignite organization<\/strong>. \u201cThis also marks the first of our self-funded technology demonstrations through Lockheed Martin\u2019s Ignite organization, created to accelerate development projects like this, push limits and expand capabilities for customers.\u201d<\/p>\n Lockheed Martin\u2019s ESA demonstrator payload, integrated on a Terran Orbital Nebula small satellite bus. The payload was developed by Lockheed Martin\u2019s Ignite organization stood up to focus on exploratory research and development, accelerating the pace of technology development, and introducing new product innovations.<\/p>\n