Connect with us

Technology

Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems Stand Ready for Responsive U.S. Space Force Mission

Published

on

Alpha launch provider, Firefly, and payload provider, Millennium, moved into the hot standby phase and wait for the VICTUS NOX callup

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif., Aug. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an end-to-end space transportation company, and Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) small satellite constellation prime, have entered the hot standby phase for VICTUS NOX, a Tactically Responsive Space mission led by Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Space Safari Program Office. The team stands ready for the 24-hour callup and orbit requirements to complete final operations and launch at the first available window.

 

“Challenging missions like this is where Firefly excels, and we are extremely humbled and proud to provide the U.S. Space Force and the nation with the critical capability to launch on-demand in support of national security,” said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “Together with our mission partners, we’ll be setting a new standard, proving nominal launch operations can be completed in a matter of hours rather than weeks to months.”

Millennium and Firefly have entered a six-month hot standby phase and will wait for activation at an intentionally unknown time. During this phase, the U.S. Space Force will give the mission team an alert notification, kicking off a 60-hour window to transport the payload to Vandenberg Space Force Base, conduct fueling operations, and integrate it with Firefly’s Alpha payload adaptor.

Space Force officials will then issue Firefly a launch notice with the final orbit requirements. The Firefly team will have 24 hours to update the trajectory and guidance software, encapsulate the payload, transport it to the pad, mate to Alpha, and stand ready to launch at the first available window. Once the payload is deployed in low Earth orbit, Millennium will attempt to fully initialize the space vehicle in less than 48 hours and then begin operations for its Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission.

“What we’re doing with VICTUS NOX has never been done before, and I attribute our success to the dedication and teamwork of our collective team – Millennium, Firefly, and SSC’s Space Safari and Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) offices,” said Jason Kim, CEO of Millennium Space Systems. “You need to have the willingness to know that there will be changes – whether requirements or processes. That’s where the teamwork and close partnerships really came into play. It’s about what help is needed to address a challenge – on all sides – and everyone pitching in to support that.”

In preparation for the mission, Firefly manufactured and acceptance tested each critical component, engine, and vehicle stage for its Alpha rocket in addition to conducting a static fire to verify all systems operate within flight parameters. Firefly and Millennium also completed multiple rehearsals in preparation for launch, which included packing and delivering a satellite mockup to Firefly’s integration facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base to practice all launch operations within the prescribed 24 hours.

“The U.S.’s ability to rapidly respond to on-orbit needs is critical to our national defense, particularly in today’s evolving space environment,” said Lt. Col. MacKenzie Birchenough, Materiel Leader for Space Safari. “The accelerated build time the team demonstrated for VICTUS NOX, combined with the demanding launch and on-orbit goals, exemplifies our strong commitment to preserving our nation’s dominance and ability to freely operate in the space domain.”

About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly is an end-to-end space transportation company with launch, lunar, and on-orbit services. As an all-American company headquartered in central Texas, Firefly is focused on delivering responsive, reliable, and affordable space access for government and commercial customers. Firefly’s small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide the space industry with a single source for missions from low Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and beyond. For more information, visit www.fireflyspace.com.

About Millennium Space Systems
Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, is a small satellite prime, delivering high-performance constellation solutions for National Security Space. Founded in 2001, the company’s active production lines and 80% vertical integration enable the rapid delivery of small satellites across missions and orbits – LEO, MEO and GEO. For more information, visit www.millennium-space.com.

About Space Systems Command
Space Systems Command (SSC) is the U.S. Space Force’s field command responsible for acquiring and delivering resilient war fighting capabilities to protect our nation’s strategic advantage in and from space. SSC manages a $15 billion space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies, academic and allied organizations to accelerate innovation and outpace emerging threats. Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow. For more information, visit www.ssc.spaceforce.mil.

Contact
press@fireflyspace.com
dana.carroll@millennium-space.com
sscpa.media@spaceforce.mil

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/firefly-aerospace-and-millennium-space-systems-stand-ready-for-responsive-us-space-force-mission-301914068.html

SOURCE Firefly Aerospace, Inc.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Air Cargo Faces Talent Crisis as 59% of Workers Consider Leaving

Published

on

By

42% of air cargo workers cite outdated technology as causing frustration

DUBAI, UAE, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Amidst ongoing geopolitical turbulence the air cargo industry is entering a period of significant instability. New research conducted by Edge Insight on behalf of IBS Software reveals a looming talent crisis, with 59% of air cargo workers having considered leaving the industry altogether. Air cargo workers cite an unpredictable working environment heightened by outdated technology (42%) and shifting global policies and unpredictable crises (35%) as the key causes of their frustration.

Digitally skilled staff to boost satisfaction

Digitalisation and updating legacy technology will be crucial for air cargo operators that wish to keep employees happy and attract new talent. In fact, 63% of air cargo workers say that greater access and use of data would improve operational efficiency, in turn improving job satisfaction.

That said, employers need to ensure their employees are trained to use the latest technology, as 39% of respondents currently cite a lack of skilled staff as a key operational challenge their company is facing. Without access to technological training, air cargo employers risk disgruntling staff further.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for the air cargo sector. Nearly half (49%) say that it was a passion for aviation and transportation that attracted them to the air cargo sector in the first place, and 68% agree that their current role still excites them.

“Business leaders in the air cargo industry need to be aware of the huge frustrations outdated technology causes for dissatisfied employees and the impact on the wider organisation. The industry cannot afford to ignore the fact that motivated, skilled staff are critical to the success of the sector – especially when you consider the next generation of workers who are far more attuned to newer and more connected ways of working,” commented Radhesh Menon, Head of Product, Cargo & Logistics, IBS Software. “Our research shows that 39% of air cargo workers themselves identify talent shortages as a core issue for their company. Without a motivated, satisfied workforce, air cargo’s operational ability is threatened. The value air cargo has globally in terms of wider trade depends on the skilled and passionate staff who care about aviation.”

A need for talent investment

The air cargo sector represents less than 1% of global cargo volume but is responsible for a staggering 33% of global trade by value. Despite their critical role in global trade, air cargo workers are not just frustrated, they are struggling – 26% say they have considered leaving to industry due to burnout or work-related stress.

Adding fuel to the potential talent shortage, 22% of air cargo workers feel they have limited career progression opportunities in their roles, and 16% believe their contributions are overlooked by the wider cargo ecosystem. For air cargo operators, these research findings highlight the importance of workforce investment – training, career development and upskilling – or they could risk losing their best talent.

For more research and commentary, please find the report here.

ABOUT IBS SOFTWARE

IBS Software is a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour & cruise, hospitality, and energy resources industries. IBS Software’s solutions for the aviation industry cover fleet & crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programs, staff travel, and air cargo management. Across the hospitality sector, IBS Software offers a cloud-native, unified platform for hotels and travel sellers, including central reservation (CRS), property management (PMS), revenue management (RMS), call centre, booking engine, loyalty, and distribution. For the tour & cruise industry, IBS provides a comprehensive, customer-centric, digital platform that covers onshore, online and on-board solutions. Across the energy & resources industry, we provide logistics management solutions that cover logistics planning, operations & accommodation management. The Consulting and Digital Transformation (CDx) business focuses on driving digital transformation initiatives of its customers, leveraging its domain knowledge, digital technologies and engineering excellence. IBS Software operates from 17 offices across the world.

Further information can be found at www.ibsplc.com Follow us: Blog | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

About the Research

This research was conducted by Edge Insight and Aviation Business News, gathering insights from 142 air cargo professionals from 5th February – 3rd March 2025. The findings reflect the realities of an industry facing increasing challenges in talent retention and workforce engagement.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2658089/IBS_Software_Air_Cargo_Survey.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1169353/IBS_Software_Logo.jpg

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/air-cargo-faces-talent-crisis-as-59-of-workers-consider-leaving-302420789.html

Continue Reading

Technology

KONVERSATIONAL AMONG THE FIRST THREE IN EMEA REGION TO BE AWARDED SERVICENOW CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGEMENT SPECIALISATION

Published

on

By

Recognition of global leading expertise in delivery of technology solutions for Telecom, Media, Tech sectors 

Retains coveted Elite Partner status 

Designations cement position as go-to digital transformation partner

DUBLIN, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Konversational, a global leading technology consultancy firm is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the highly coveted ServiceNow Customer Service Management (CSM) Specialisation, making it among the first three within the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) region to achieve this designation.

The industry accolade is in recognition of its award-winning knowledge and industry experience combined with its unique ability to deliver superior customer service solutions across ServiceNow platforms to clients in the Telecom, Media, Tech (TMT) sectors. It also acknowledges the tailored approach adopted by Konversational, taking each client on a case-by-case basis, developing a bespoke response, underpinned by world-leading technology solutions ensuring clients can strengthen customer engagement and build long-term brand loyalty.

This latest award follows from its recent retention of the ServiceNow Elite Partner designation. The status is assigned only to partners who demonstrate deep expertise, a proven track record of successful implementations and a commitment to driving business value for customers. It is reserved specifically for those who consistently showcase excellence across multiple ServiceNow product lines.

Founded over five years ago, Konversational has accelerated through the ServiceNow Partner Programme owing to its deep industry experience and unrivalled technical knowledge and expertise of ServiceNow technology solutions. It has acquired the highest-ranking designations across six practice areas including Customer Service Management and Field Service Management. Further to this, in the last year alone it achieved the highest number of qualifying deployments under the ServiceNow Deployment Success Incentive Program (DSIP).

Headquartered in Dublin, Konversational has also established operations in the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland. It currently employs 80 highly qualified industry professionals, in both Dublin and across offices in London, Paris, Nantes, Zurich, Munich and Lausanne. It has plans to further expand its footprint across mainland Europe in the coming months and ambitions to grow its workforce to over 120 by year-end.

The award-winning technology firm works with a diverse portfolio of enterprise clients in Telecom, Financial Services, IT Services, Infrastructure, and the Public Sector delivering large-scale digital transformation projects underpinned by ServiceNow technologies. In the year ahead, it intends to increase its provision of AI-driven service offerings, including the integration of Agentic AI into enterprise solutions and deepen its investment in both emerging technologies and customer service.

Commenting John Gilleran, Co-CEO

“Achieving the designation of Customer Service Management Specialisation represents a major milestone and marks another exciting point for Konversational. It is testament to our industry experience, technical expertise, innate understanding of client needs and our ability to combine all these elements to deliver digital transformation projects that have a demonstrable positive impact for organisations. To be among the first three across the entire EMEA region and in such a short period of time, is a testament to our pedigree in this space and the value and innovation we deliver to clients.”

Commenting Johann Terrier, Continental Europe VP

“We look forward to deepening our presence across mainland Europe, further expanding our diverse, experienced, and talented team at Konversational in the months ahead, and cementing our position as the partner of choice.”

Commenting, ServiceNow Executive Vice President of worldwide industries, partners, and go-to-market at ServiceNow Erica Volini

“Konversational’s achievement as one of the first EMEA partners to earn the Customer Service Management Specialisation, while retaining Elite Partner status, demonstrates its exceptional capability, deep domain expertise, and consistent delivery of transformative outcomes for our joint customers.”

About Konversational

Konversational is an international technology consultancy and the leading ServiceNow Customer Workflow partner, helping to make the world of work better for our clients. Founded in 2020 by two industry veterans Richard Guy and John Gilleran, it is headquartered in Dublin, with offices in London, Paris, Nantes, Zurich, Munich and Lausanne. It currently employs 80 people.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2657816/Specialization_Badge_Service_Experience_EMEA.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2657815/Konversational_Logo.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/konversational-among-the-first-three-in-emea-region-to-be-awarded-servicenow-customer-service-management-specialisation-302420238.html

Continue Reading

Technology

Advanced Therapies Europe 2025 unveils a reimagined, high-impact format: capped at 500, curated for connection

Published

on

By

BARCELONA, Spain, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Advanced Therapies Europe arrives in Barcelona for the first time, taking place from 2-4 September 2025 at the Hotel Arts, Ritz-Carlton. With a bold new focus, this year’s edition introduces a reimagined format: an exclusive, in-person experience, capped at just 500 attendees. With attendance strictly limited, the emphasis is on delivering high-value interactions and accelerating innovation across the field. Every element has been curated to foster deeper connections, more focused conversations and tailored content for those advancing the future of cell and gene therapies.

Set in one of Europe’s fastest-growing biotech hubs, Advanced Therapies Europe will welcome decision-makers from biotech and pharma, investors, regulators, academics, solution providers and manufacturing leaders for three days of immersive content, strategic networking and purposeful deal-making.

Attendees will explore the industry’s most pressing topics, including investment and market trends, manufacturing and scale-up strategies, clinical development and commercialisation, emerging technologies and the evolving global regulatory landscape. The agenda includes in-depth workshops, interactive track sessions and focused roundtables designed to encourage open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving.

Confirmed speakers include Miguel Forte, CEO of Kiji Therapeutics; Thomas Carlsen, CEO of Novo Nordisk Cellerator; Ase Rosenqvist from Johnson & Johnson’s Nordic Cell Therapy Business Unit; Eleuterio Lombardo, Director of Cell Therapy Characterization at Takeda; and Angela Vollstedt, Director of Global R&D Cell & Gene Therapies Portfolio at Novartis.

Returning for 2025 are two cornerstone summits—the Women in Advanced Therapies Congress and the Investment Summit—both providing focused spaces for mentorship, innovation and strategic alignment. The Innovation Exchange also returns in a refreshed format, spotlighting breakthrough biotech companies and connecting them directly with investors shaping the future of the industry.

“We’ve reimagined this year’s event to be even more dynamic, interactive and connection-driven,” said Ingerid Sorgaard, Content Director at Phacilitate. “It’s not just about delivering content—it’s about facilitating the right conversations in the right settings. From curated roundtables and deep-dive workshops to rooftop networking and interactive formats, every element is designed to spark meaningful connections, fresh insights and real collaboration.”

Applications to attend are now open at https://advancedtherapieseurope.phacilitate.com. With only 500 places available and Super Early Bird pricing in effect until 18 April, early application is strongly encouraged.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2656626/ATE_Panel.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2656627/ATE_Logo.jpg

Contact: Abby Cairns, Senior Marketing Manager, Phacilitate, team@phacilitate.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/advanced-therapies-europe-2025-unveils-a-reimagined-high-impact-format-capped-at-500-curated-for-connection-302419724.html

Continue Reading

Trending