A digital model of an aerospike. Photo: Firefly Space Systems

[Via Satellite 08-21-2014] Small satellite launch company Firefly Space Systems has teamed up with Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) and ANSYS to conduct rocket simulations using the Stampede supercomputer. Firefly will use TACC’s supercomputer to run ANSYS software analysis for simulations of rocket subsystems. According to the company, this method reduces the amount of time that would be needed for the same task at a workstation to mere seconds. The simulations are expected to reduce the cost and time needed for Firefly to develop its launch vehicles.

“The bottom line here is what used to cost hundreds of millions of dollars is rapidly becoming available in the single digit millions,” said Firefly CEO Thomas Markusic. “We are offering small satellite customers the launch they need, for a fraction of what it has cost historically, at around $8 or 9 million — the lowest cost in the world.”