Firefly is very pleased to announce that we ended 2018 with multiple successful hot fires of our integrated Alpha second stage.
Commencing stage qualification testing was one of Firefly’s primary goals for 2018. This video shows a recent test of the integrated Alpha second stage, which includes flight-configuration propulsion, structures and tankage, pressurization and propellant management systems, and avionics. The stage operates autonomously, controlled by Firefly-developed flight software. These tests also demonstrate full activation of Firefly’s large-scale vertical test stand, “TS2”, at Firefly’s Briggs, TX test facility.
In 2019 Firefly will continue qualification testing of both the first and second stages of Alpha and begin flight acceptance testing in May, supporting our goal of December 2019 first launch from VAFB.
We are very proud of the Firefly team’s 2018 accomplishments and also applaud the significant progress of the entire newspace small launcher community.