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Firefly Aerospace Ready to Launch Alpha FLTA005 for NASA No Earlier Than June 26

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Noise of Summer mission will launch eight educational payloads for NASA’s CubeSat Launch Services Initiative

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an end-to-end space transportation company, today announced its Alpha Flight 5 (FLTA005) mission, called Noise of Summer, is scheduled to launch no earlier than June 26. The 30-minute launch window will open at 9 p.m. PST.

“The Firefly team has rapidly matured our Alpha rocket and our responsive launch operations to deliver the dependable one-metric-ton rocket the market is demanding,” said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “We’re proud to support this NASA mission that will not only prove out the capabilities of Alpha as a repeatable, reliable launch vehicle, but also advance our mission of making space for everyone by supporting some incredible student-led CubeSat initiatives.”

Launching from Firefly’s SLC-2 complex at the Vandenberg Space Force Base, Alpha FLTA005 supports Firefly’s Venture-Class Launch Services Demo 2 contract with NASA that serves to validate the capabilities of launch vehicles that support a new launch class and provide more access to space for small satellites and spacecraft. The mission will deploy the following eight payloads selected through NASA’s CubeSat Launch Services Initiative, providing U.S. educational institutions and nonprofits with low-cost access to space.

CatSat – University of Arizona: CatSat is a technology demonstration of an inflatable antenna for high-speed communications. After reaching low Earth orbit, CatSat’s antenna will deploy and inflate to a diameter of just over one-and-a-half feet to transmit high-definition Earth photos to X-band ground stations at approximately 50 megabits per second, more than 5 times faster than typical home internet speeds.

KUbeSat-1 ­­- University of Kansas: KUbeSat-1 will demonstrate a new method to measure the energy and species of primary cosmic rays hitting Earth utilizing a Cosmic Ray Detector. The payload will also utilize High-Altitude Calibration technology to research very high frequency signals generated by cosmic ray interactions with the atmosphere.

MESAT1 – University of Maine: MESAT1 is a climate focused payload that will identify urban heat islands, determine concentration of phytoplankton in water bodies, and help predict harmful algal blooms. Four multispectral cameras on board will relay the data down to University of Maine’s ground station for further processing.

R5-S4 and R5-S2-2.0 – NASA’s Johnson Space Center: R5-S4 and R5-S2 will be the first in a line of R5 spacecrafts launched to orbit, featuring Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Fiducial AprilTags to solve the problem of relative navigation between spacecraft. R5-S4 will also demonstrate a “spacecraft license plate” with a small blinking light that continuously flashes a unique number that can be read with a small telescope on the ground to identify and better track satellites among tens of thousands of objects currently in orbit. 

Serenity 3 – Teachers in Space: Licensed as an amateur radio broadcaster, Serenity 3 includes a suite of data sensors and a camera that will send data back to Earth and communicate with radios on the ground, allowing anyone with a ham radio to “talk” to Serenity. For details on communicating with and requesting photos from Serenity, visit www.TIS.org/Serenity-satellite.

SOC-i – University of Washington: Satellite for Optimal Control and Imaging (SOC-i) will test an algorithm aimed at supporting autonomous operations with constrained attitude guidance maneuvers computed in real-time aboard the spacecraft. The payload utilizes uses optimization-based attitude guidance methods to compute trajectories in real-time that meet a set of five constraints throughout the maneuvers.

TechEdSat-11 (TES-11) – NASA Ames Research Center: TES-11 will conduct several technology demonstrations, including an exo-brake with a deployable parachute-like device aimed at reducing CubeSat de-orbit times, and BrainStack-3, a graphics processing unit and neuromorphic processors that allow for artificial intelligence experiments in low Earth orbit. TES-11 is part of a series of collaborative missions called TechEdSat that pair university students with NASA researchers to evaluate new technologies for use in small satellites while providing student mentorship opportunities with engineers at NASA’s Ames Research Center.

“Through innovative technology partnerships, NASA provides these CubeSat developers a low-cost pathway to conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space,” said Hamilton Fernandez, mission manager with NASA’s Launch Services Program. “NASA benefits by having a mechanism for low-cost technology development and scientific research to help bridge strategic knowledge gaps and accelerate flight-qualified technology. The students benefit through hands on experience, which develops the future workforce of the U.S. space industry.”

Alpha FLTA005 and Firefly’s future Alpha launches will continue to be performed as responsive space operations that are observed by members of the U.S. Space Force Tactically Responsive Space team to further define the training, infrastructure, and operational requirements for repeatable, on-demand launch capabilities. During the final launch operations, Firefly will transport the payload fairing to the launch pad and mate it to Firefly’s Alpha rocket within hours of the scheduled liftoff, compared to weeks in a typical operation.

For more details on the Alpha FLTA005 Noise of Summer mission and livestream, visit fireflyspace.com/missions/noise-of-summer/.

About Firefly Aerospace 
Firefly Aerospace is an end-to-end space transportation company with launch, lunar, and on-orbit services. Headquartered in central Texas, Firefly is a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners (“AEI”) 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.

Contact
press@fireflyspace.com

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SOURCE Firefly Aerospace, Inc.

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Pixelworks Empowers iQOO Z9 Turbo L Smartphone to Deliver a Flagship Visual Display Experience

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Expanded Frame Rate Capability and Enriched Visual Effect Options Offer Compelling yet Affordable Visual Quality Upgrades

SHANGHAI, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Pixelworks, Inc. (NASDAQ: PXLW), a leading provider of visual processing solutions, announced that the newly released iQOO Z9 Turbo L smartphone is equipped with Pixelworks’ X5 Turbo visual processor. The integration solution provides targeted frame rate optimization for multiple popular mobile games, extending the play time for high-frame-rate gaming while utilizing lower power. Additionally, the solution enables multiple gaming filter modes for display enhancement, further enriching the visual experience for players. The smartphone also supports high-frame-rate modes for several video apps, which elevate the immersive video experience for consumers.

Powered by the Snapdragon® 8s Gen 3 mobile platform from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., the iQOO Z9 Turbo L features a 6,400mAh ultra-thin BlueCell battery with support for 80W fast charging. In terms of display, the device sports a 6.78-inch 1.5K OLED screen with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. With the adoption of Pixelworks’ X5 Turbo visual processor featuring distributed rendering architecture, the smartphone is able to better allocate processing resources to deliver extended play time of high-frame-rate games, enriched picture quality of low-frame-rate games and a more immersive video experience.

Specific to the gaming experience, the smartphone supports both frame rate improvement and power-saving modes. For games with high native frame rate, the Pixelworks X5 Turbo visual processor reduces unnecessary power consumption by offloading intensive rendering from the GPU, contributing to extended play time while maintaining optimal visual quality. For games with a lower native frame rate, the X5 Turbo dynamically boosts displayed frame rate of games to match the higher refresh rate capabilities of the smartphone’s display, enabling a smoother and more immersive experience at low power. Further enriching the visual enjoyment for mobile gaming , Pixelworks’ solution enables the smartphone with a variety of gaming filter modes, including a set of seven general purpose filter modes—customized, low-light enhancement, snow blindness prevention, old retro, vivid, soft and bright —as well as dedicated filter modes tailored to match the original artistic style for specific mobile games. Users can select filters based on visual preference to maximize the immersiveness of their gaming experience.

With respect to video experience, the smartphone leverages the Pixelworks visual processor’s content-adaptive motion processing to effectively reduce motion judder caused by the mismatch between contents’ native frame rate and the refresh rate of the display. This ensures that even low-frame-rate video content is delivered with excellent and stable visual quality on high refresh rate displays. Currently, this feature supports video frame rate interpolation from 24fps/25fps/30fps up to 60fps, and is compatible with several popular video apps, including iQIYI, Tencent Video, Youku, and Bilibili.

“As a device with flagship performance targeting the mid-range market, the iQOO Z9 Turbo L consistently strives for excellence in both product strength and user experience,” said Yaojing Yang, Senior Director of Gaming Experience Planning Center, iQOO. “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Pixelworks in enhancing the visual performance and user experience. By integrating the Pixelworks X5 Turbo visual processor with a distributed rendering architecture, the smartphone is able to fully utilize its rendering capability to deliver smoother and more immersive gaming and video experiences. We look forward to extending this high-quality visual experience to a broader range of applications in the future, allowing more consumers to enjoy high-value and performance products that are competitively priced.”

“Congratulations on the launch of the iQOO Z9 Turbo L smartphone! Earlier this year, we collaborated with iQOO on the iQOO Z9 Turbo, and we were impressed by iQOO’s high standards of product quality and emphasis on delivering superior user experiences. The popularity of that model has validated iQOO’s unique market insight,” said Ting Xiong, co-GM and President of Sales and Marketing of Pixelworks China. “It’s an honor to power the iQOO Z9 Turbo L with our content-oriented visual optimization solutions that enable a flagship-level gaming and video experience at an affordable price. We look forward to deepening our collaboration across future products and technology to bring consumers even more groundbreaking visual experiences.” 

About vivo
vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on a design-driven value, with smart devices and intelligent services as its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through unique creativity, vivo provides users with an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life. Following the company’s core values, which include Benfen*, user-orientation, design-driven value, continuous learning and team spirit, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy with the vision of developing into a healthier, more sustainable world-class corporation.

While bringing together and developing the best local talents to deliver excellence, vivo is supported by a network of R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an and more cities, focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, imaging system and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set up an intelligent manufacturing network (including those authorized by vivo), with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 60 countries and regions, and is loved by more than 500 million users worldwide.

*”Benfen” is a term describing the attitude on doing the right things and doing things right – which is the ideal description of vivo’s mission to create value for society.

Stay informed of latest vivo news at https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news

About Pixelworks
Pixelworks provides industry-leading content creation, video delivery and display processing solutions and technology that enable highly authentic viewing experiences with superior visual quality, across all screens – from cinema to smartphone and beyond. The Company has more than 20 years of history delivering image processing innovation to leading providers of consumer electronics, professional displays and video streaming services.

For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.pixelworks.com.

Note: Pixelworks and the Pixelworks logo are trademarks of Pixelworks, Inc. Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE Pixelworks, Inc.

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BingX Introduces ALTCOIN Index Futures Trading: One Click, Countless Trends

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VILNIUS, Lithuania, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — BingX, a global leading cryptocurrency exchange, is excited to announce the launch of ALTCOIN Index, the first futures trading pair involving top altcoins. This innovative trading product offers users a one-click solution to efficiently track and trade major cryptocurrency trends with ease.

Traditionally used in stock markets, a futures index is a financial derivative that tracks the performance of a group of assets, such as stocks of commodities. These instruments were first introduced to simplify trading by allowing investors to speculate on or hedge against the collective movements of selected market sectors. Instead of purchasing individual stocks, traders are able to access broad market exposure in a single transaction, saving time and reducing costs.

In the cryptocurrency market, this new ALTCOIN/USDT futures trading pair works similarly by bundling the performance of the top mainstream cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding Bitcoin (BTC) and stablecoins. The current index includes ETH, XRP, SOL, BNB, DOGE, ADA, TRX, AVAX, and SHIB. This approach is more efficient compared to buying individual cryptocurrencies or ETFs as this allows for direct speculation using tiered leverage options without the need to manage multiple positions, effectively diversifying trading risks associated with individual asset volatility.

Vivien Lin, Chief Product Officer of BingX, commented on the new offering: “By aggregating a range of leading cryptocurrencies into a single trading instrument, we’re giving users a practical and efficient way to better capture market trends. This index trading pair should help our less experienced users with their trading goals more easily, particularly when they are unsure which asset to trade and just want to trade major altcoins in general with leverage.”

BingX users can take advantage of tiered leverage options and competitive rates consistent with the platform’s perpetual futures terms, simplifying open order management and enhancing trading efficiency. The platform also ensures that the index composition remains current, with regular quarterly adjustments and temporary updates in response to market conditions.

About BingX
Founded in 2018, BingX is a leading crypto exchange, serving over 10 million users worldwide. BingX offers diversified products and services, including spot, derivatives, copy trading, and asset management – all designed for the evolving needs of users, from beginners to professionals. BingX is committed to providing a trustworthy platform that empowers users with innovative tools and features to elevate their trading proficiency. In 2024, BingX proudly became the official crypto exchange partner of Chelsea Football Club, marking an exciting debut in the world of sports.

For more information please visit: https://bingx.com/

 

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SOURCE BingX

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Lyric’s first solid-state battery front-end equipment is shipped to customer in United States

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BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, Lyric’s first solid-state battery front-end equipment has been shipped to a customer in the United States. Relying on its deep accumulation in the field of solid-state battery technology, Lyric has achieved strategic development on the global stage.

As of now, Lyric’s Z-shape stacking machine has reached the forefront of the industry, achieving an efficient stacking speed of 0.1s/pcs and ultra-high precision alignment of ≤ ± 0.3mm, setting an industry benchmark. At the same time, with the innovative design, the double planetary mixer realizes the efficient mixing of various viscosity materials, showing extraordinary flexibility, and significantly enhances the safety and efficiency of the production process through the iterative upgrade of automation technology, and provides customized services to accurately meet customer needs.

Looking to the future, Lyric will continue to expand its global footprint, based on the deep accumulation in the field of solid-state batteries since 2020, and its patented technology of dry electrode and stacking process and self-developed equipment advantages, Lyric not only demonstrates excellent capabilities in the manufacture of solid-state battery production equipment, but also provides a full range of solutions. Covers customized delivery from a single station to the entire production line. In terms of international cooperation, Lyric is actively seeking cooperation opportunities with more overseas enterprises, aiming to promote China’s solid-state battery equipment technology and solutions to the global market, further enhance its influence and competitiveness in the global renewable energy industry chain, and jointly explore unlimited possibilities in the field of renewable energy.

 

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SOURCE Lyric

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