Fly the Lightning

Welcome everyone!

Scheduled for UTC	2023-12-22 17:32
Scheduled for (local)	2023-12-22 09:32 (PST)
Launch site	SLC-2W, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
Launch provider	Firefly Aerospace
Launch vehicle	Alpha
Customer	Lockheed Martin
Payload	Electronically Steerable Antenna demo
Mission success criteria	Successful deployment of payload into LEO

Livestreams

Stream	Link
Firefly Aerospace	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMJv-54Dpcc
NASASpaceflight	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LItoeS3jrHg

Stats

• This will be the 2nd launch for Firefly this year.
• This will be the 4th launch for Firefly overall.

Payload info:

Firefly’s Alpha rocket will launch Lockheed Martin’s new wideband Electronically Steerable Antenna (ESA) technology integrated on a Terran Orbital Nebula satellite bus. Developed within Lockheed Martin Space’s Ignite organization using a proprietary design, the ESA payload will demonstrate faster on-orbit sensor calibration to deliver rapid capabilities to U.S. warfighters. The ESA sensor is expected to calibrate in a fraction of the time it takes to operationalize traditional on-orbit sensors, which historically can take months to be powered on, fully calibrated and ready to perform their mission.

Target orbit: LEO

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re still a relatively small sub, so feedback from the community is very valuable!