Firefly’s Alpha secures a new launch contract.

Summary

T-Minus Space Daily: Firefly’s Alpha Secures a New Launch Contract – March 5, 2025

N2K Networks’ “T-Minus Space Daily” delivers comprehensive space intelligence and analysis tailored for global industry leaders and experts. In this episode released on March 5, 2025, host Maria Varmazes delves into significant developments within the space sector, including Firefly Aerospace’s new NASA contract, strategic acquisitions, financial insights, and groundbreaking technological advancements. Below is a detailed summary capturing all key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions.

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1. Introduction

Maria Varmazes opens the episode by outlining the day’s primary headlines and intelligence briefings, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of recent space industry developments.

Timestamp [00:01]
Maria Varmazes: “Today is March 5th, 2025. I'm Maria Varmazes and this is T minus.”

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2. Major Headlines

a. Firefly Aerospace Secures NASA Contract for INTASC Mission

Maria announces that NASA has selected Firefly Aerospace to provide launch services for the Investigation of Convective Updrafts (INTASC) mission.

Key Details:

• Mission Objective: To understand the formation, location, and intensity of tropical convective storms and their link to extreme weather events.
• Launch Vehicle: Firefly’s Alpha rocket.
• Launch Site: NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
• Contract Value: Part of NASA’s Venture Class acquisition with a maximum total value of $300 million over five years.

Quote:
Maria Varmazes [04:15]: “Firefly will carry three smallsats as part of the mission to investigate the evolution of the vertical transport of air and water by convective storms.”

b. Astroscale UK Collaborates with BAE Systems on ISAM Demonstration

Astroscale UK has completed a study to develop capabilities for in-orbit refurbishment and upgrading of satellites, aiming to transition the space industry towards a circular economy.

Key Details:

• Collaboration: Astroscale UK and BAE Systems.
• Project Name: ISAM (In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing) demonstration.
• Future Goals:
  • By 2030: Conduct an IRIS (In-Orbit Refurbishment and Upgrading Service) demonstration mission.
  • By 2040: Establish in-orbit refurbishment as a standard industry practice.

Quote:
Maria Varmazes [05:10]: “The IRIS mission involves designing a servicer satellite which can rendezvous with a BAE Systems client satellite and robotically upgrade its specific modules in space.”

c. Spire Global Reports Robust Q3 2024 Financial Results

Spire Global, known as the Space Data Company, reported $28.6 million in revenue for Q3 2024, marking a 29% year-over-year growth.

Key Highlights:

• Revenue Drivers: Increased annual recurring revenue from existing customers and growth in space services and R&D contracts.
• Achievements:
  • Awarded contracts by NASA and NOAA.
  • Successfully launched seven satellites on the SpaceX Transporter 11 mission.
• Future Projections: Spire anticipates issuing full-year 2024 financial results later in the month.

Quote:
Maria Varmazes [06:00]: “Their growth was primarily driven by increased annual recurring revenue with existing customers and growth in revenue recognized for both space services contracts and R and D services contracts.”

d. Fleet Space Technologies Acquires Hisise

Australia’s Fleet Space Technologies has acquired Hisise, a provider of active seismic exploration technology for the minerals industry.

Impact of Acquisition:

• Enhanced Services: Strengthens Fleet’s end-to-end exploration offerings.
• Industry Streamlining: Facilitates the mining industry's progression from data acquisition to AI-enabled drill targeting.

Financial Milestone:
Fleet Space’s recent US$100 million Series D funding has more than doubled its valuation to over US$525 million.

Quote:
Maria Varmazes [06:45]: “Fleet says the acquisition will strengthen the company's end to end exploration services, streamlining the global mining industry's journey from Data acquisition to AI enabled drill targeting across the mineral value chain.”

e. Starlab Space Completes Preliminary Design Review with NASA

Starlab Space has successfully completed a preliminary design review of their space station in collaboration with NASA, positioning the project for further development.

Key Points:

• Next Steps: Progress towards certification and preparing for a detailed design and hardware development phase.
• Objective: Aim to secure future contracts for NASA utilization and astronaut activities.

Quote:
Maria Varmazes [07:30]: “With the completion of the preliminary design review and an exacting Level one safety review, the station's architecture, systems and integration plans are ready to advance the project towards certification.”

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3. In-Depth Discussions

a. NASA’s Exploration of GNSS Signals on the Moon

A significant achievement was reported where NASA successfully acquired GPS signals on the Moon through the Lugra investigation—a joint effort with the Italian Space Agency.

Technical Insights:

• Mission: Utilized the Blue Ghost Lander by Firefly Aerospace to place Lugra on the Moon’s surface.
• Achievement: Successfully tracked signals from GNSS satellites (GPS and Galileo) on the Moon, despite the increased distance of approximately 214,000 miles compared to Earth’s 11,000 miles.

Implications:

• Autonomous Navigation: Enables spacecraft and Moon-based devices to navigate autonomously using existing GNSS infrastructure without relying on Earth-based input.
• Future Missions: Facilitates advancements in the Artemis program and other lunar exploration initiatives.

Quote:
Maria Varmazes [10:20]: “If we can successfully use GNSS infrastructure that is already in place and acquire those satellite signals, much like our autonomous devices on the ground here on Earth, those devices in space and on the Moon could also use those signals to navigate without requiring input from human operators on Earth.”

b. Intuitive Machines Athena Lander and Lonestar Data Holdings’ Data Center Payload

The Athena Lander by Intuitive Machines, en route to the Moon, is carrying a data center payload developed by Lonestar Data Holdings.

Key Accomplishments:

• Data Operations: Successfully performed encryption/decryption, file uploads/downloads, and edge computing tasks during the transit to the Moon.
• Economic Significance: Demonstrates the viability and economic potential of edge computing in space, paving the way for expanded data processing capabilities beyond Earth.

Further Insights:

• Historical Context: This mission follows the successful Intuitive Machines Odysseus mission, where Lonestar also deployed a payload.
• Future Content: Maria references her interview with Lonestar CEO Chris Stott in the March 16, 2024, Deep Space episode for more detailed information.

Quote:
Maria Varmazes [11:10]: “Edge computing in space is an area of enormous economic interest and growth potential, so this successful demo is another key step in proving the viability of this approach.”

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4. Additional Updates

Ariane 6 Launch and Starfighter Space Developments

Senior Producer Alice Carruth provides brief updates on:

• Ariane 6 Launch: Scheduled for the following day, marking a significant milestone for the European launch vehicle.
• Starfighter Space: Revealed advancements in their Star Launch Platform.
• ISCI Partnerships: Announced new collaborations to further space exploration and technology development.

Quote:
Alice Carruth [07:07]: “Starfighter Space have shared details on advances to their star launch platform and ISCI have signed new partnerships to advance space.”

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5. Conclusion

Maria wraps up the episode by highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring and feedback, encouraging listeners to engage through show notes and surveys to ensure the podcast remains a valuable resource for space industry professionals.

Final Quote:
Maria Varmazes [11:55]: “Your feedback ensures we deliver the information that keeps you a step ahead in the rapidly changing space industry.”

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6. Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Maria Varmazes [04:15]: “Firefly will carry three smallsats as part of the mission to investigate the evolution of the vertical transport of air and water by convective storms.”

• Maria Varmazes [05:10]: “The IRIS mission involves designing a servicer satellite which can rendezvous with a BAE Systems client satellite and robotically upgrade its specific modules in space.”

• Maria Varmazes [06:00]: “Their growth was primarily driven by increased annual recurring revenue with existing customers and growth in revenue recognized for both space services contracts and R and D services contracts.”

• Maria Varmazes [06:45]: “Fleet says the acquisition will strengthen the company's end to end exploration services, streamlining the global mining industry's journey from Data acquisition to AI enabled drill targeting across the mineral value chain.”

• Maria Varmazes [07:30]: “With the completion of the preliminary design review and an exacting Level one safety review, the station's architecture, systems and integration plans are ready to advance the project towards certification.”

• Maria Varmazes [10:20]: “If we can successfully use GNSS infrastructure that is already in place and acquire those satellite signals, much like our autonomous devices on the ground here on Earth, those devices in space and on the Moon could also use those signals to navigate without requiring input from human operators on Earth.”

• Maria Varmazes [11:10]: “Edge computing in space is an area of enormous economic interest and growth potential, so this successful demo is another key step in proving the viability of this approach.”

• Maria Varmazes [11:55]: “Your feedback ensures we deliver the information that keeps you a step ahead in the rapidly changing space industry.”

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For more detailed insights and continuous updates, listeners are encouraged to visit space.n2k.com and explore additional content such as Deep Space episodes and the Cyber Wireless sister podcast.

Transcript

[Maria Varmazes]

You're listening to the N2K space network.

[Dave]

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[Maria Varmazes]

Learn more at BlackCloak IO today is March 5th, 2025. I'm Maria Varmazes and this is T min T minus 20 seconds. Starlab Space has completed a preliminary design review of their space station in collaboration with NASA. 4 Australia's Fleet Space Technologies has acquired Hisise, a provider of active seismic exploration technology to the minerals industry. Spire Global announces third quarter 2024 financial results Astroscale UK and BAE Systems to collaborate on an ISAM demonstration. NASA selects Firefly Aerospace to provide the launch service for the investigation of convective updrafts, or Incas. Ms.

[Dave]

Foreign.

[Maria Varmazes]

And today's show focuses on the headlines and our intelligence briefing. If you're looking for more content, then definitely check out our Deep Space episodes available at space.n2k.com or our sister podcast the Cyber Wireless, available on all good podcast platforms. Happy Wednesday. T minus Crew let's dive into today's stories from across the space industry. Up first, NASA selects Firefly Aerospace to provide the launch service for the agency's investigation of convective updrafts, or INCAS mission. The mission aims to understand why, when and where tropical convective storms form and why some storms produce extreme weather. Firefly will carry three smallsats as part of the mission to investigate the evolution of the vertical transport of air and water by convective storms. The contract is for launch services on Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket, which will lift off from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The selection is part of NASA's Venture Class acquisition of dedicated and rideshare launch services contract and this contract allows the agency to make fixed price indefinite delivery indefinite quantity awards during the five year ordering period with a maximum total value of $300 million across all contracts. Astroscale UK has completed a study aimed at developing capabilities to refurbish and upgrade satellites for commercial use. The study was commissioned as part of the European Space Agency's system studies for a circular economy in space. Astroscale is collaborating with BAE Systems to develop an in orbit refurbishment and upgrading service, also known as iris, to transition away from the current single use culture in space. This initial system study will inform the next steps towards future commercial services. The IRIS mission involves designing a servicer satellite which can rendezvous with a BAE Systems client satellite and the client satellite will be created in a modular, serviceable way enabling the servicer to robotically upgrade its specific modules in space. This study has provided a long term technical roadmap to making in orbit refurbishment and upgrading services the norm in the space industry by 2040, with a midterm objective being an IRIS in orbit demonstration mission by 2030. Spire Global has shared their third quarter 2024 financial results and restated financial statements for prior periods. The space Data Company reported $28.6 million in revenue representing 29% year over year growth. They say this growth was primarily driven by increased annual recurring revenue with existing customers and growth in revenue recognized for both space services contracts and R and D services contracts. Spire was awarded contracts through NASA and NOAA during the financial period and successfully launched seven satellites on the SpaceX Transporter 11 mission. They also shared preliminary full year 2024 financial results and they stated that they expect to issue full financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 later this month. Australia's Fleet Space Technologies has acquired HIS, which is a provider of active seismic exploration technology to the minerals industry. Fleet says the acquisition will strengthen the company's end to end exploration services, streamlining the global mining industry's journey from Data acquisition to AI enabled drill targeting across the mineral value chain. Fleet Space's acquisition of HiSize follows its recent US$100 million Series D funding round, more than doubling the company's valuation to over US$525 million. Starlab Space has completed a preliminary design review of their space station in collaboration with NASA. STAR Labs says with the completion of the preliminary design review and an exacting Level one safety review, the station's architecture, systems and integration plans are ready to advance the project towards certification with the intent to win a future contract for NASA utilization and Astronaut activity. This achievement positions the project for detailed design and hardware development leading to a critical design review to confirm the station's readiness. And there's more to come, with updates on Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost mission and a milestone for for the Lunar Data center heading to the Moon with im2n2k. Senior Producer Alice Carruth also has some more on the stories that didn't make the top five today.

[Alice Carruth]

Alice thanks Maria. We have an update on Ariane 6's Ariane 6 launch, which will hopefully lift off tomorrow. Starfighter Space have shared details on advances to their star launch platform and ISCI have signed new partnerships to advance space.

[Maria Varmazes]

Based intelligence and a reminder that links to those stories can be found in the Selected Reading section of our show Notes and over at space.n2k.com just click on this episode's title.

[Alice Carruth]

Hey T Miners crew. If you find this podcast useful and you enjoy the content, please do us a favor and share a five star rating and a short review in your favorite podcast app. It will help other space professionals like you find the show and join the T minus crew. Thank you. We really do appreciate it.

[Maria Varmazes]

We'll be right back.

[Dave]

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[Maria Varmazes]

Welcome back. Quite a headline from NASA just dropped and it quite simply says NASA successfully acquires GPS signals on the Moon. And that success was achieved through lugra, which is a joint investigation between the Italian Space Agency and NASA. And lugra's payload is on the Blue Ghost Lander that Firefly Aerospace just successfully placed on the Moon's surface. And at 2:00am Eastern Time on March 3rd, Lugra acquired and tracked signals on the Moon from the very same GNSS satellites, GPS and Galileo that billions of us here on Earth also rely on. And those GNSS satellites are pretty far out From Earth, about 11,000 miles from our surface, but they are a lot further away from the moon. Try about 214,000 miles. Quite a delta there. So aside from the cool factor of this, the successful demonstration is going to be crucial for autonomous navigation of spacecraft or Mooncraft. If we can successfully use GNSS infrastructure that is already in place and acquire those satellite signals, much like our autonomous devices on the ground here on Earth, those devices in space and on the Moon could also use those signals to navigate without requiring input from human operators on Earth. That opens up a whole lot of opportunities for upcoming missions, including for the Artemis program. So if you think a GPS enabled automated robotic lawnmower is kind of neat, just you wait until you see what we can do on the moon. And little surprise that as humanity continues its return to the moon, we're racking up quite a lot of new firsts like that one that I just mentioned. And here's another one courtesy of the Currently en route to the Moon Intuitive Machines Athena Lander and one of its payloads by Lonestar Data Holdings. Their data center payload was able to conduct a number of successful tasks like encrypting and decrypting data, uploading and downloading files, and even some edge computing tasks for Lonestar's customers, all while en route to the Moon. No big deal. Edge computing in space is an area of enormous economic interest and growth potential, so this successful demo is another key step in proving the viability of this approach. Oh, and by the way, I have interviewed Lone Stars CEO Chris Stott in the past, so if you're interested in hearing more about all of this, go check out our March 16, 2024 Deep Space episode for my interview with him, which is right after the success of Intuitive Machines Odysseus mission last year on which Lonestar had a payload as well. Definitely go check it out. And that's it for T minus for March 5, 2025. Brought to you by N2K CyberWire for additional resources from today's report. Check out our show [e-mail] we'd love to know what you think of this podcast. You can email [e-mail] or submit the survey in the Show Notes. Your feedback ensures we deliver the information that keeps you a step ahead in the rapidly changing space industry. N2K strategic workforce intelligence optimizes the value of your biggest investment your people. We make you smarter about your team while making your team smarter. N2K's senior producer is Alice Carruth. Our producer is Liz Stokes. We're mixed by Elliott Peltzman and Trey Hester, with original music by Elliott Peltzman. Our executive producer is Jennifer Ibin. Peter Kilby is our publisher and I'm your host, Maria Varmazes. Thanks for listening. We'll see you tomorrow. T minus Foreign.

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