Texas-based Firefly Aerospace said Monday it successfully test-fired the second stage of its Firefly Alpha rocket in a five-minute hot fire to prepare for a planned launch later this year.

The company called the test a "milestone" in its quest for flight qualification of the launch vehicle.

The company is building a rocket plant near Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Its upcoming launch is set to occur at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

"The length of the test successfully demonstrates the capability of the integrated system - flight avionics, structures, and propulsion systems - to operate for the duration of a flight mission," the firm said in a statement.

Firefly Aerospace will join SpaceX, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, satellite manufacturer OneWeb and a cluster of smaller companies that have kicked off a new chapter in American space exploration.

Firefly will make smaller orbital launch rockets across the street from OneWeb's new satellite plant. It intends to offer launches for small satellites at cheaper rates than SpaceX or United Launch Alliance's bigger rockets.

The company also plans a bigger rocket, Firefly Beta, and a possible space plane, Firefly Gamma. It previously told the state's marketing agency for space, Space Florida, that it plans to invest $52 million into its plant and new launchpad facilities.

Source: United Press International

Related Links
Firefly Aerospace
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

NASA, Blue Origin agreement signals growth of commercial space
Washington DC (SPX) Apr 23, 2019
Officials from NASA and the private space company Blue Origin have signed an agreement that grants the company use of a historic test stand as the agency focuses on returning to the Moon and on to Mars, and America's commercial space industry continues to grow. Under a Commercial Space Launch Act agreement, Blue Origin will upgrade and refurbish Test Stand 4670, at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to support testing of their BE-3U and BE-4 rocket engines. The BE-4 ... read more