Firefly Aerospace Sets New Launch Speed Record for U.S. Space Force Mission

Space Force ’s end ofwanting the capacity to establish a artificial satellite on very short noticejust passed a major milestone . The Victus Nox missionary post , Latin for “ inhibit the nighttime , ” was a achiever , and watch private company Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems successfully prepare a launching in less than a day , followed by the lift - off occurring presently afterwards .

Firefly Aerospace , a launch fomite supplier , saidyesterday in a blog post that the Victus Nox charge was formally realize . Prior to call - up from Space Force , Firefly ’s Alpha roquette lay look on a launching pad of paper at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California with a satellite from Millenium Space Systems as a load .

“ Today was an incredible success for the Space Force , the Firefly squad , and our nation after collar this complex responsive space delegacy , ” Bill Weber , CEO of Firefly Aerospace , said in the post . “ Our combined commercial and political science team executed the military mission with record amphetamine , agility , and flexibility , tote up a vital capability to deal national security measures needs . ”

Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket carrying a satellite from Millenium Space Systems into orbit after launch on September 14.

Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket carrying a satellite from Millenium Space Systems into orbit after launch on September 14.Image: Firefly Aerospace

Millenium and Firefly both sign on on to the Victus Nox mission withseparatecontractsin October 2022 . Prior to the launch , Millenium was first required to transport the mini - fridge - sized orbiter over 170 mile ( 274 kilometre ) from its factory in El Segundo , California , to Vandenberg Space Force Base in 60 hours . During this clock time , Firefly direct juiceless streak for the artificial satellite ’s integrating with the Alpha rocket before the 24 - hour notification from Space Force .

Victus Nox is a part of Space Force ’s push into tactically antiphonal place , which describes the idea that , in times of war or national emergency , destroyed satellites need to be quickly replaced . While the concept had been on the Armed Forces ’ radiolocation , this past March was the first clock time Space Force specifically asked Congress for money toward enacting it , offer a $ 60 million budget .

In 2021 , Space Force first demonstrated its rapid response capabilities during its Tactically antiphonal Launch-2 mission , in which a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL projectile flee to space . consort to Space Force ’s ownaccount , the missionary work occurred on June 13 , 2021 and take in Northrop Grumman launching the rocket from Stargazer , a change Lockheed L-1011 aircraft , within a windowpane of 11 months . After taking off from Vandenberg Space Force Base , Stargazer reached 40,000 feet ( 12 km ) above the Pacific Ocean and launch Pegasus , which carry a demonstration planet into orbit .

The Alpha rocket carrying the Millenium satellite during launch on September 14.