Firefly Aerospace, the decade-old spaceflight firm based mostly in Cedar Park, Texas, is now engaged on a further launch website for its operational Alpha small satellite tv for pc launcher and upcoming Medium Launch Car (MLV) in Virginia. As well as, the corporate is planning to construct an Alpha launch website abroad in Sweden for the European market. Firefly not too long ago answered NSF’s questions on future launch websites and present operations.
These websites will be a part of the corporate’s current Alpha launch website, House Launch Complicated-2W (SLC-2W) at Vandenberg House Power Base (VSFB) in California. A Firefly website on the Cape Canaveral House Power Station (CCSFS) House Launch Complicated-20 (SLC-20) shouldn’t be a present precedence, however future use is feasible.
“Firefly is prioritizing Wallops Pad 0A as our first Alpha East Coast launch website whereas sustaining our lease at SLC-20 and evaluating timing to increase to Cape Canaveral House Power Station at a later date” mentioned Firefly to NSF.
House Launch Complicated-20 at CCAFS. Firefly is sustaining a lease at this website. (Credit score: House Florida)
SLC-20, south of the SLC-41, SLC-40, and SLC-37 pads, was utilized by Titan I, Titan IIIA, and Strategic Protection Initiative Group rockets earlier than House Florida labored to revitalize the power with the assistance of the US House Power and its House Launch Delta 45. The location was leased to Firefly in 2019 as an East Coast launch website for its rockets.
All 5 Alpha flights to this point have occurred from SLC-2W and the upcoming Alpha FLTA006 is ready to fly from VSFB as properly. Though all future Alpha flights on the manifest are scheduled to fly from VSFB, the corporate has determined so as to add a launch website on the Wallops Island Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) in Virginia.
Firefly Alpha – probably a render – seen at Pad 0A at MARS. (Credit score: Firefly Aerospace)
Firefly will use Pad 0A at MARS as its first East Coast launch website whereas evaluating the timing for future use of SLC-20 at CCSFS. The corporate can use current automobile and payload processing amenities and launch the MLV from the identical pad. As Firefly acknowledged to NSF, “MARS additionally supplies launch schedule flexibility to assist Firefly’s responsive launch capabilities and permits operational efficiencies throughout automobile strains since Firefly’s Medium Launch Car will launch from the identical pad.”
Pad 0A has hosted 18 Antares launches for Northrop Grumman Company (NGC) and Orbital Sciences, which turned Orbital ATK and was purchased out by NGC. NGC is utilizing the MLV first stage as a part of its upcoming Antares 330 launch automobile, and this automobile will use this pad together with the Firefly MLV and Alpha.
Render of the NGC/Firefly MLV lifting off. (Credit score: Firefly Aerospace)
This launch pad was initially constructed to assist operations for the failed Conestoga launch automobile within the Nineties and hosted its solely orbital launch try. The Conestoga was the primary privately funded industrial launch automobile; sadly, its solely orbital launch try failed 46 seconds after launch after hydraulic fluid from the steering system was depleted.
Along with Firefly’s future use of MARS, the corporate can be engaged on a launch website at Esrange, Sweden, 40 km east of the northern city of Kiruna. The Esrange House Middle, initially in-built 1964, hosts sounding rocket launches, high-altitude balloons, and a satellite tv for pc monitoring station. The location, initially constructed for analysis into the aurora borealis, now has the Launch Complicated-3 (LC-3) website for orbital launches, although none have taken place but.
The Esrange House Middle close to Kiruna, Sweden. It’s north of the Arctic Circle. (Credit score: Swedish House Company)
Firefly plans to turn into the primary US firm to launch satellites from continental Europe. The corporate signed an settlement with the Swedish House Company in June 2024 to launch satellites from Esrange, and Firefly will use the LC-3C launch pad for its operations. Work is already underway at LC-3C to configure it for Alpha flights.
Relating to the aim of providing a launch website in Europe, Firefly acknowledged to NSF, “The launch cadence will largely be pushed by buyer demand. With the inaugural Alpha launch from Esrange as early as 2026, the brand new advanced can assist industrial clients within the broader European market and allow tactically responsive area missions to additional advance nationwide safety for NATO nations.”
Firefly Alpha FLTA005 stands prepared for the Noise of Summer time mission on pad SLC-2W at VSFB. (Credit score: Firefly Aerospace)
Launch websites at Wallops and Esrange are key to Firefly’s plan to supply fast response missions. These missions require the crew to course of payloads, conduct operations, and launch inside a day’s discover. As well as, Firefly hopes to have a month-to-month launch cadence for its Alpha launch automobile starting in 2026 utilizing a number of launch websites.
Alpha can launch over 1,030 kg to a low-Earth orbit or 630 kg to a sun-synchronous orbit. This functionality locations the rocket on the high finish of the small satellite tv for pc launcher class, and Firefly’s providing of responsive launch providers from three launch pads – probably 4 pads in due time – on two continents with this launcher is an try and carve out a distinct segment within the crowded launch market.
Sizzling fireplace check of the Miranda engine for the MLV and Antares 330 in Texas. (Credit score: Firefly Aerospace)
Firefly’s MARS launch website is scheduled to begin operations as early as subsequent yr, whereas operations on the Esrange House Middle will start as early as 2026. Whereas these websites are being ready, Alpha FLTA006’s flight preparations are underway. As Firefly acknowledged to NSF, “Firefly’s check marketing campaign is in full swing for Alpha FLTA006. We’ll have extra particulars to share on the scheduled launch date and the payload quickly.”
Whereas Firefly is engaged on extra launch websites, the corporate can be engaged on its Elytra switch automobile, the Blue Ghost Moon lander, testing MLV parts, and an enlargement at its check facility in Briggs, Texas. Future articles shall be coming quickly to cowl these developments.
(Lead picture: Artist’s impression of Firefly Alpha launching from LC-3C at Esrange, Sweden. Credit score: Swedish House Company)
