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!

  • threelonmusketeersOPMEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I was wondering why Firefly’s social media was so quiet… I’m glad Officer McDowell is on the case!

    Shame about the 2nd stage and the elliptical orbit. How long does LOx takes to boil off from a stage of this size? I don’t think it was insulated like the Falcon Heavy GEO 2nd stages are. I imagine the LOx is gone by now.

    I wonder, will Lockheed Martin will be able to get any useful data from their payload despite this? They’ll obviously have much less time to work with, as the orbit will decay pretty quickly.