Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems have announced the beginning of a “hot standby phase” for their upcoming Alpha launch. The US Space Force is expected to send orders to the companies at any point within the next six months to prepare for a launch on short notice. The demonstration aims to help contractors and the Space Force accelerate the planning and execution of National Security Missions.

During the six-month hot standby phase, Firefly and Millennium will be ready to transport the payload to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California within a 60-hour window. They will conduct fueling operations, integrate the payload with the Alpha rocket’s payload adapter, and await final orbit requirements from Space Force officials. Once the launch notice is issued, Firefly will have 24 hours to update the trajectory and guidance software, encapsulate the payload, and be prepared to launch.

Virgin Galactic Achieves Higher Flight Cadence

Virgin Galactic plans to conduct its Galactic 03 commercial spaceflight on September 8, achieving a Higher Flight Cadence compared to previous missions. This will be the company’s third commercial spaceflight and will carry three passengers who bought their tickets in the 2000s. Mike Moses, company president, attributes the improved turnaround time to upgrades in the spacecraft and carrier aircraft.

Moses explains that future automation of certain aspects of the vehicles’ flight will simplify operations. Virgin Galactic is confident in its forthcoming line of Delta-class spacecraft, which will have built-in features to support quick turnarounds. For example, inspections can be done more efficiently with fewer fasteners, reducing labor-intensive processes.

Rocket Lab Aims to Reuse Nine Engines

Rocket Lab is planning to launch its Electron rocket with only reused engines in an effort to reduce costs. Engines can make up a significant portion of the booster cost, and reusing them can provide financial benefits. However, it is unclear how much money Rocket Lab could save, as there are additional costs associated with engine recovery and refurbishment.

Rocket Lab currently recovers its Electron boosters through parachute-softened ocean landings and immediate boat recoveries. The company aims to protect the engines from saltwater erosion during recovery. SpaceX, known for its larger Falcon 9 boosters, spends approximately $2 million to recover and $1 million to refurbish the vehicles.

Sources:
– Space News: “Firefly launches ‘hot standby phase’ for next Alpha launch”
– Ars Technica: “How Virgin Galactic has reached a higher flight cadence”
– Payload: “Rocket Lab seeks to reuse nine engines”

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