Latest news with #Elytra
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Firefly Awarded $177 Million NASA Contract for Mission to the Moon's South Pole
Company's fourth lunar mission and fifth NASA CLPS award utilizes Firefly's Elytra orbital vehicle and Blue Ghost lunar lander to operate two rovers and three scientific instruments Firefly's Blue Ghost Mission 4 - Lunar OrbitCEDAR PARK, Texas, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firefly Aerospace, a market leading space and defense technology company, was awarded a $176.7 million NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contract to deliver five NASA-sponsored payloads to the Moon's south pole in 2029. The mission will utilize Firefly's Elytra orbital vehicle and Blue Ghost lunar lander to enable payload operations that include evaluating the Moon's south pole resources, such as hydrogen, water, and other minerals, and studying the radiation and thermal environment that could affect future astronauts and lunar infrastructure. 'Firefly is honored to support another NASA CLPS task order as a proven, reliable partner for robotic missions to the Moon,' said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. 'Following our first Blue Ghost mission that made history just a few months ago, this bold Firefly team proved we have the right mix of grit, innovation, and dedication to not only stick the landing, but also complete all scientific objectives for our payload partners. We've set the bar high, and we aim to continue setting new records in our missions to come with our active production line of Blue Ghost landers.' During Blue Ghost Mission 4 operations, Firefly's Elytra Dark transfer vehicle will first deploy the Blue Ghost lander into lunar orbit and remain on orbit to provide a long-haul communications relay for the mission. Blue Ghost will then land in the Moon's south pole region, deploy the rovers, and enable payloads operations with data, power, and communications services for more than 12 days on the lunar surface. The NASA-sponsored payloads onboard Blue Ghost include two rovers – the MoonRanger rover and a Canadian Space Agency rover – as well as a Laser Ablation Ionization Mass Spectrometer (LIMS), a Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA), and the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS), which also flew on Blue Ghost Mission 1. These payloads will help uncover the composition and resources available at the Moon's south pole, advance lunar navigation, evaluate the chemical composition of lunar regolith, and further study the effects of a lander's plume on the Moon's surface during landings. Following Blue Ghost Mission 4 operations, Elytra Dark will remain operational in lunar orbit for more than five years in support of Firefly's Ocula lunar imaging service. The mission enables a third Elytra Dark in Firefly's growing constellation to provide customers with faster revisit times for lunar mapping, mission planning, situational awareness, and mineral detection services. The first two Elytra Dark vehicles will launch as part of Blue Ghost Mission 2 to the far side of the Moon in 2026 and Blue Ghost Mission 3 to the Gruithuisen Domes in 2028. 'Firefly's Elytra Dark spacecraft are great companions for Blue Ghost – they're highly maneuverable vehicles built with the same flight-proven components and propulsion system that successfully landed Blue Ghost on the Moon,' said Chris Clark, Vice President of Spacecraft. 'As our Elytra constellation continues to grow in lunar orbit, Firefly is in a unique position to provide lunar imaging services and a communications relay for missions anywhere on the Moon's surface. And with extra payload capacity on both Elytra and Blue Ghost, we invite additional government and commercial customers to join our fourth mission that's built upon the same reliable architecture and led by the same trusted team.' Customers interested in joining Blue Ghost Mission 4 can find more information at and those interested in Firefly's Ocula lunar imaging services can find more details at About Firefly AerospaceFirefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables government and commercial customers to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for responsive space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with approximately 24-hour notice. Firefly is also the only company to achieve a fully successful landing on the Moon. Established in 2017, Firefly's engineering, manufacturing, and test facilities are co-located in central Texas to enable rapid innovation. The company's small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles are built with common flight-proven technologies to enable speed, reliability, and cost efficiencies for each mission from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. For more information, visit Media Contactpress@ Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Firefly Aerospace to launch 'Ocula' moon-imaging service as early as 2026
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Firefly Aerospace's lunar ambitions are growing. The Texas-based company, which successfully operated its Blue Ghost lander on the lunar surface earlier this year, announced today (June 18) that it's working on a new moon project: a "lunar imaging service" called Ocula. "Powered by a constellation of Elytra vehicles in lunar orbit, and eventually Mars orbit, Ocula will provide critical data that informs future human and robotic missions and supports national security with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance," Firefly CEO Jason Kim said in an emailed statement. "This service will fill a void for our nation with advanced lunar imaging capabilities and a sustainable commercial business model." Firefly is developing its Elytra vehicle for a variety of uses in Earth orbit and deep space, including the region around the moon. The Ocula project will equip Elytra probes with high-resolution telescopes developed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy facility in the California Bay Area. These scopes will be able to resolve features as small as 8 inches (20 centimeters) on the lunar surface from an altitude of 31 miles (50 kilometers), according to Firefly. "With ultraviolet and visible spectrum capabilities, the telescopes are designed to support situational awareness of other objects in cislunar space, enable fine-grained lunar surface details and identify concentrations of ilmenite, which indicates the presence of helium-3," Firefly representatives wrote in the emailed statement. (Helium-3, a potential fuel for future nuclear fusion reactors, is thought to be more abundant on the moon than it is on Earth.) Ocula data could also help researchers and planners select landing sites for future robotic or crewed missions, the company added. Firefly aims to license the data to both government and commercial customers. Related Stories: — 'We're on the moon!' Private Blue Ghost moon lander aces historic lunar landing for NASA — Watch sparks fly as Blue Ghost lander drills into the moon (video) — Watch the sun set over the moon in epic video from private Blue Ghost lunar lander If all goes according to plan, Ocula will kick off next year, on the second Blue Ghost lunar landing mission. An Elytra with an LLNL scope will serve as the transfer vehicle for that mission, which will put Blue Ghost down on the moon's far side (and also deliver a European Space Agency probe to lunar orbit). Elytra will serve as a communications relay for Blue Ghost and its payloads for the duration of the lander's roughly two-week-long surface mission. After those duties are done, Elytra will begin its Ocula work, imaging the lunar surface in detail for more than five years. Another scope-equipped Elytra will launch in 2028, on the third Blue Ghost mission. And other spacecraft will follow in the ensuing years, if all goes to plan. "Firefly will expand its constellation of Elytra vehicles in lunar orbit to further enhance the Ocula service and enable faster revisit times for situational awareness, resource detection and mission planning," Firefly wrote in the statement. "Longer term, the service can also be extended to Mars and other planetary bodies."
Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
How to build a creeper farm in Minecraft
Image via Mojang In Minecraft, Creeper farms are an essential resource for a constant supply of gunpowder, which is used for crafting TNT, fireworks, and some splash potions and is primarily used to fly an Elytra. Though the creepers have a unique spawn rate behavior compared to other hostile mobs, this farm has to be built with perfection. This guide will assist you through a step-by-step process, making it a comfortable way to build a working creeper farm that will provide efficient resources to you while you explore the world. Steps to build a Minecraft Creeper farm MINECRAFT 1.21 CREEPER FARM | Easy, Efficient, Automatic Materials and preparation Before the construction, gather these essential materials: Building blocks (like stone or cobblestone) Wooden trapdoors Carpet (to avoid the spawning rate of spiders) Cat mobs (to scare creepers) Slabs Campfires or magma blocks (to kill creepers) Chests and hoppers (for collecting the loot) Construction steps Set the farm in a good location: Select a farm high above sea level or on top of the ocean to prevent mobs from spawning outside the farm. The fewer mobs in the area, the greater the chance of the creeper spawn rate. Construct the spawning platforms: Create a flat platform using solid blocks. Put trapdoors on the roof, leaving a space of 1.75 blocks. This makes sure only creepers are spawned. Put the carpets two blocks apart from each other to prevent spiders from spawning. Use Cat as a scare mechanism to move creepers. Domesticate a cat and place them in the center of each platform. As the creepers are afraid of cats, they will try to walk away and go straight into the trap zone. Set up a trap to kill the Creeper: Put the campfire or magma blocks at the bottom to kill the creepers. Place hoppers underneath to collect the loot into chests. Boost the efficiency: Add up multiple layers of platforms to increase the number of creepers spawning. Use trapdoors at the edges to lure creepers from walking off. Lighting and spawn-proofing: Light up or slab caves nearby to prevent unwanted mob spawning outside the farm. In Minecraft, building a creeper farm might take a bit of effort, but it is worth the effort as it gives us a steady supply of gunpowder. With precise and careful building and a few cats, you will have a self-sustained farm system that keeps working while you focus on dealing with other things. As the farm is running, you will never run out of gunpowder or kill creepers for it and have an unlimited supply of fireworks for your Elytra.
Broadcast Pro
25-05-2025
- Science
- Broadcast Pro
Firefly Aerospace adds UAEs Rashid 2 Rover to Blue Ghost mission
The Rashid 2 Rover will join Blue Ghost Mission 2, in 2026, which will be Firefly Aerospaces second lunar mission, alongside payloads from Australia, the European Space Agency and NASA. Firefly Aerospace has announced a new agreement with the United Arab Emirates' Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to deliver the Emirates Lunar Missions Rashid 2 Rover to the far side of the Moon on Fireflys Blue Ghost lander. The Rashid 2 Rover will join Fireflys second lunar mission in 2026 in addition to payloads from Australia, the European Space Agency, and NASA as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, said: 'On the heels of Fireflys flawless Moon landing and operations, our team is looking forward to collaborating with the UAE and further expanding our representation of Artemis Accords nations on this groundbreaking mission to the far side of the Moon. Were honoured to support the international space community with our versatile Blue Ghost lander and Elytra spacecraft that can stack together to provide unique access to both lunar orbit and the lunar surface.' The Rashid 2 Rover will demonstrate lunar surface mobility on the far side of the Moon and utilise various materials on its wheels to evaluate their durability when exposed to lunar dust. The data collected will help guide the development of future lunar technologies, such as spacesuits, habitats, and other critical infrastructure. Utilising multiple cameras and probes, the rover will also study the Moons plasma, geology, and thermal conditions in support of future in-situ resource utilisation. H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General of MBRSC, added: 'The strategic agreement signed with Firefly Aerospace marks a significant advancement in the UAEs growing role in shaping the future of lunar exploration. Through the Emirates Lunar Missions Rashid 2 Rover, the UAE will become one of the few nations to explore the far side of the Moon. The mission will deliver valuable scientific data on the lunar surface, plasma environment, and dust behaviorcontributing to global knowledge and supporting future lunar infrastructure development. As we prepare for this historic milestone, we remain dedicated to expanding the UAEs contributions to humanitys long-term presence in space.' During Blue Ghost Mission 2 operations, Fireflys Elytra vehicle will first deploy the Blue Ghost lander and the European Space Agencys Lunar Pathfinder satellite in lunar orbit. Blue Ghost will then touch down on the far side of the Moon to deliver the UAEs Rashid 2 Rover, Australias Fleet Space SPIDER payload, and NASAs LuSEE-Night radio telescope and User Terminal. Elytra will remain in lunar orbit to provide long-haul communications and enable radio frequency calibration services for LuSEE-Night. The payloads flying on this international mission will advance the growing lunar ecosystem by searching for lunar resources, enhancing surface mobility on the Moon, improving lunar communications, and uncovering new insights about the origins of the universe. Firefly has already begun qualifying and assembling flight hardware for Blue Ghost Mission 2, which will follow Fireflys first lunar mission that completed the first fully successful commercial Moon landing on March 2 and completed 14 days of surface operations on March 16, marking the longer commercial operations on the Moon to date.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
How to Make a Fully Automated Sugarcane Farm in Minecraft
Image via Mojang The most valuable resource in Minecraft is sugarcane, especially when crafting paper, enchanting books, and fireworks for Elytra. It is much easier to grow manually, but harvesting it by hand can get boring and repetitive over time. Now that is where an automation is prepared to save much time and provide a good supply of resources when needed. A fully automated sugarcane machine uses a Redstone mechanism to detect growth and harvest the crops manually without player input. This guide explains and outlines the materials, design, and some simple steps to create an automatic sugarcane farm. Step-by-step guide to building an automatic sugarcane farm Minecraft: Easiest Automatic Sugarcane Farm! [1.20+] Collect the following materials to build a basic automated sugarcane farm : Sugarcane Dirt blocks Water bucket Pistons Observers Redstone dust Building blocks (any type) Hoppers Chest Minecart with hopper Rails Step 1: Set up the planting area. Dig a shallow trench and fill it with water. Place the dirt blocks next to the water where sugarcane will grow. Plant sugarcane on the dirt blocks. Step 2: Add Pistons and Observers Behind each sugarcane plant, place a piston one block above the dirt level. Place an observer on top of each piston, facing the sugarcane, to detect when it grows to three blocks tall. Step 3: Connect with Redstone Place the redstone dust behind each of the observers. After the sugarcane reaches the observer height, it triggers the redstone, which leads to powering on the piston. Pistons then break the top two segments of the sugarcane, leaving the base to regrow. Step 4: Collect the Harvest Automatically Build a track using rails underneath or in front of the sugarcane row. Place a minecart with a hopper on top of the tracks to collect the dropped sugarcane. Connect the rail tracks to a hopper and a chest system to store your production automatically. Optional Enhancements Expand the farm horizontally to boost your production. To observe the redstone mechanism clearly, use a glass view. Add lighting to ensure optimal growth conditions. Creating a fully automated sugarcane farm in Minecraft is a smart and efficient way to ensure a constant supply of valuable resources. By using pistons, observers, and redstone circuits, the farm operates without manual effort. This setup is especially useful for enchanting, trading, and crafting, making it a must-have feature in any advanced Minecraft world. Now you can stack up enough fireworks for your Elytra and keep flying through it.
