This startup is on track to launch its 1st rocket to space in Q4:
Last week, Firefly -- which rose from the ashes of Firefly Space Systems in 2017 -- announced it would
Firefly aims to drive down the cost of launch services using a vehicle called Alpha, which can loft a metric ton to low Earth orbit or 630 kilograms to the popular sun-synchronous orbit. One of its major innovations is the structures and propellant tanks, which use carbon fiber composites to reduce cracks and leaks from storing supercooled liquid oxygen. Its first launch in Q4 will host a commercial payload, although Firefly hasn't disclosed who the customer is yet.
The structures, engines, avionics and software constructing and testing are largely complete, so the company is mostly working towards a key step of testing the first stage's four engines together in what is called a"quad engine test". Then comes a separate procedure where the entire first stage will be tested at the same time.
Flight qualification is next. Watt said a brand-new car coming off the assembly line could pull to the side of a road if something fails during the first drive, with"no harm, no foul", but rockets have more serious consequences. So the company, in line with industry practices, will run the entire vehicle at above mission performance requirements while still tying the rocket to the ground.
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