posted 06-17-2019 10:05 AM               

Firefly Aerospace Provides a DREAM Payload Opportunity

The quest for space travel inspires STEM interest like no other endeavor. Firefly has promoted that interest by opening its doors to youth though Firefly Academy, the Base 11 Space Challenge, and the Firefly International Rocket Event (FIRE). Today Firefly is taking their STEM commitment literally to the next level by announcing a global competition to host academic and educational payloads, free of charge, on the inaugural flight of the Firefly Alpha launch vehicle.

"If America fails to grow more STEM talent over the next few years, our country risks being left behind technologically. That's why Firefly's challenge is so important. Inspiring young people and making science cool is the name of the game," stated Deborah James, former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force and current Firefly Advisory Board member.

Firefly is making a philanthropic commitment to STEM, by committing a portion of the payload capacity on Alpha's maiden flight to support and stimulate STEM on a global basis. Firefly also aims to enable other newspace enterprises and increase economic activity in low earth orbit. The Dedicated Research and Education Accelerator Mission (DREAM) payload also provides newspace entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to gain access to space and gain flight heritage for concepts. DREAM payloads will be co-manifested with a commercial payload.

"'Making Space for Everyone' has been an essential part of Firefly's vision and dream since the day we began," said Firefly CEO Dr. Tom Markusic. "I'm proud to announce today that we're following through on that commitment by opening a competition, to literally everyone, for the use of the excess capacity of our first Alpha launch."

Dr. Markusic added, "All ideas are welcome – from a child's drawing, to a university science experiment, to a startup company cube sat – so we encourage everyone to propose their idea for a DREAM payload to Firefly for consideration."

Details and specifications for DREAM payloads can be found on the Firefly website. Applications should be submitted for consideration by June 30th, 2019.

posted 11-21-2019 08:23 AM            

The maiden flight of Firefly Alpha is currently scheduled for the first quarter of 2020 and will fly out of their Vandenberg, California launch facility.

Will provide further details as Firefly officials allow now that they are proceeding with their public relations rollout regarding this historic mission.

Firefly Aerospace Announces DREAM Payload Participants

Firefly Aerospace (Firefly) announced this past summer the Dedicated Research and Education Accelerator Mission (DREAM), a global competition to host academic and educational payloads as rideshare participants on the inaugural flight of the Firefly Alpha launch vehicle. Today we are happy to announce the payloads selected to fly on Alpha's maiden flight to support and stimulate STEM on a global basis. There are 26 DREAM payloads representing 7 different countries.

The payloads are broken down into two categories, nontechnical and technical. Nontechnical payloads include children's artwork, messages from children in pediatric hospitals and photographs of previous space missions. Technical payloads range from 3U to 27U satellites supplied by prominent universities and nonprofits from around the globe.

Nontechnical DREAM Payload Participants:

• Anderson High School Robotics Program
  
• Animal Packers
  
• AstroGrams
  
• Audrey's Space Dream
  
• Bob Hope Elementary at Southwest ISD
  
• Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows
  
• Brady Nilsson
  
• Brian Lunos
  
• CD-SEAS Mission Microgravity
  
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Spaceflight Sciences Policy and Operation Club
  
• Izumiya-Hotaru Photographs for Education and Environments
  
• Liam Fjellstedt
  
• LifeShip
  
• Madison West Rocket Club
  
• Morija Girls Rocket Program
  
• NAET ArtFlight
  
• Noosphere Art Challenge
  
• St. Paul Elementary School
  
• Think Beyond

Technical DREAM Payload Organizations:

• Fossa Systems (Non-profit Juvenile Association)
  
• Hawaii Science and Technology Museum – 501c3
  
• Purdue University
  
• Teachers in Space, Inc. – 501c3
  
• United States Marine Corps Warfighting Lab/The Naval Postgraduate School along with Team members: Houston Mechatronics Inc., Aerovironment Inc., AT&T
  
• University of Cambridge
  
• University of Southern California, Space Engineering Research Center (USC SERC)

DREAM payloads will be co-manifested with commercial payloads on the first Alpha launch. Firefly plans to share its DREAM payload stories on its social media starting in late November.

"We are honored to have received so many outstanding submissions that promote STEM globally," said Firefly CEO Dr. Tom Markusic. "From an all girl's STEM rocket program in Lesotho to leading edge technology demos from distinguished universities, the DREAM payloads embody Firefly's ethos of 'Making Space for Everyone.'"

"In 1993 I was on the ASUSat-1 team and we were given the opportunity to launch our first satellite on a donated rideshare slot to LEO," said Firefly VP of Mission Assurance Shea Ferring. "That program propelled so many of us into the aerospace industry and it is now great to give back with a similar opportunity to multiple university programs. We look forward to providing similar opportunities on future missions to support and encourage STEM students that their dreams do come true."