Firefly, Millennium Enter Hot Standby Phase for Victus Nox Launch

Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems are awaiting an order from the Space Systems Command to deploy a satellite into orbit as the companies enter the six-month hot standby phase for the Tactically Responsive Space-3 Victus Nox mission. 

The SSC intentionally did not inform the companies when the deployment order would be issued within the time frame since Victus Nox aims to demonstrate the capability to launch an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance satellite within 24 hours of notice.

Prior to the launch order, the SSC will issue an alert notification requiring the transport of the payload to Vandenberg Space Force Base, fueling operations and payload integration with the Alpha payload adaptor to be completed within 60 hours, Firefly Aerospace said.

The SSC, in October 2022, awarded Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space task orders for the TacRS-3 flight under the U.S. Space Force Orbital Services Program-4 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract vehicle.

Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, said the mission will demonstrate the completion of nominal launch operations in hours rather than weeks or months.