This week on Pathfinder, we're joined by Ray Allensworth, Spacecraft Program Director at Firefly Aerospace. Ray, who has a previous background with major aerospace names like Raytheon and Northrop, helps lead Blue Ghost, Firefly’s lunar lander program designed to deliver scientific and commercial payloads to the surface of the Moon. The company is currently on track to be the next commercial lunar lander on the Moon with its planned launch in November aiming for the elusive 100% flawless mission which has not yet been achieved by any commercial entity.
Our conversation delves into the comprehensive capabilities of Firefly as an end-to-end space transportation company, the intricacies of the Blue Ghost program, and the significance of lunar exploration. We also explore:
- The origins and objectives of Blue Ghost
- Technical milestones and challenges
- The economic and strategic importance of lunar landers
- The role of Firefly in the broader context of NASA's Artemis program
- Future missions and the commercial opportunity on the moon
And much more…
• Chapters •
00:00 Intro
00:37 Firefly overview
01:27 Blue Ghost
03:02 How Ray got to Firefly and her background
04:22 Building a space company in Texas
05:18 What is the importance of returning to the moon?
07:01 National security interest in the Moon
08:20 Viability of developing products for the Moon
09:50 Current moon landing customers and where Ray sees growth
11:04 Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Program
12:26 Most promising commercial opportunity on the Moon
14:43 Why is it still so hard to land on the Moon?
16:58 How is the Blue Ghost Architecture different from other lunar landers?
19:54 Technical milestones, team, and launch for Blue Ghost
21:01 Most important challenges to overcome for Mission 1
23:04 Powering beyond solar
23:54 Testing for the lunar environment
28:29 What risks keep Ray up at night?
29:52 Customer goals for Mission 1
31:20 The international market
35:44 Commercial landing on the dark side of the Moon
36:53 What's next after CLPS?
37:47 Blue Ghost profitability
39:58 Firefly's role in Artemis program
41:37 Is sample return in the future plan?
42:03 Press bomb prep
43:17 Is the Moon your calling?
44:54 What would you send to the Moon?
46:22 Ray's favorite place to eat in Texas
• Show notes •
Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam
Firefly’s Blue Ghost website — https://fireflyspace.com/blue-ghost/
Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace
Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace
Pathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes
• About us •
Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We’re also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.
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