Lockheed, Seagate Space and Firefly want to launch rockets from sea
Lockheed Martin has joined a partnership aimed at launching rockets from sea into space in the future.
Artistic representation of a floating launch platform from Seagate Space with the Alpha carrier rocket from Firefly Aerospace
(Image: Firefly Aerospace)
Lockheed Martin, together with Seagate Space and Firefly Aerospace, wants to launch rockets from floating launch platforms. The US aerospace and defense group has joined a partnership of Seagate Space and Firefly Aerospace for this purpose.
“The three companies will work together on mission application concepts and flight demonstration projects that leverage Seagate’s Gateway offshore launch platform,” wrote Johnathon Caldwell, head of Strategic & Missile Defense Systems at Lockheed Martin Space in a post on the social network LinkedIn. “We look forward to working on projects with these companies in the near future.”
Seagate Space and Firefly Aerospace announced their cooperation in April. Seagate Space is developing the floating rocket launch platform Gateway-S. In the future, the Alpha carrier rocket from the space company Firefly Aerospace is to be launched from there.
Modular floating platform
According to Seagate Space, the Gateway platform is a modular floating platform specifically designed for rocket launches. The concept has nothing to do with repurposed pontoons or ships, as used by other companies, the company emphasized when announcing the partnership with Firefly Aerospace.
Both partners stated in the announcement that they not only intended to conduct commercial space flights but were also open to military applications. Lockheed Martin is not only contributing financial resources to the partnership. The defense contractor also works closely with the government and the military.
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The combination of a floating launch facility and the carrier rocket enables rapid and flexible access to space from various locations. This is “an essential capability for tactical payloads and national security missions,” wrote Lockheed manager Caldwell. “The collaboration further aims to accelerate the development of responsive launch solutions, delivering cutting-edge technology that supports the warfighter’s evolving operational requirements.”
(wpl)
