Cedar Park Aerospace Firm Details Payloads Data

CEDAR PARK, TX — Officials at aerospace firm Firefly on Tuesday detailed the nature of payloads selected to fly on one of its launch vehicles.

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. Monday, officials announced 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, officials noted. 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.

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," Firefly CEO Dr. Tom Markusic said in a prepared statement. "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.'"

Added Firefly VP of Mission Assurance Shea Ferring: "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. "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."