Firefly Space

North alumnus Benjamin Tackett at work as Lead Systems Engineer for Firefly Space.

On Jan. 15, Benjamin Tackett, a former North student who currently works at Firefly Space, a Texas-based company that is aiming to improve space travel, helped launch the Ghost Riders in the Sky mission, which is the first mission as part of the Blue Ghost mission series. The event was a significant breakthrough for Firefly Space because it was their very first mission to the Moon. The mission is scheduled to land on March 2, 2025. 

Back at North, Tackett appreciated science and technology classes. He also took the PLTW classes Introduction to Engineering Design and Principles of Engineering. 

Marsha Brown, North technology teacher, noted Tackett’s strong commitment to his classwork.

“I think he was a very hard worker, very organized [and] nice, [he] collaborated with everyone [and he did] really hard work. Everything he did, he put in 100%,” said Brown. 

Brown also added that at the time, North had recently switched to a new curriculum, and Tackett was a leader as Brown adjusted to teaching new concepts.

“These students were kind of my first guinea pigs going through it, and he was kind of a leader,” said Brown.

According to Brown, some projects Tackett constructed included a self-propelled car, a projectile launcher and a trash sorter.

After graduating from North in 2011, Tackett decided to work in outer space because of his desire to be part of the latest developments in science. 

“I knew I wanted to be [a] cutting edge of engineering and technology, and I always saw that as aerospace related, whether that was anything to do with high tech supersonic airplanes or space,” said Tackett. 

Firefly Space launched the mission in order to perform scientific research on the moon.

“The goal is to put a robotic lunar lander on the moon, on the lunar surface and deliver 10 NASA-hosted payloads to perform science on the lunar surface,” said Tackett.

A payload is the equipment that is used to gather data during a mission.

Tackett fulfills a specific and important role as part of the launch.

“I’m Lead Systems Engineer for the Blue Ghost mission, so [I’m] essentially working with the chief engineer and every other subsystem to maintain healthy working order of all components,” said Tackett. 

Being part of the mission is an intriguing experience for Tackett.

“It is one of the most exciting things I’ve done in my life so far,” said Tackett.

Firefly Space is planning future launches to go along with the current mission.

“We’ve got [a mission] that’s supposed to launch in 2026 and another in 2028, both [are] also lunar landers that include a transfer stage, which is an orbital satellite that’ll orbit the moon and assist with communications. And then mission three will also include a rover,” said Tackett.

In advice to his teenage self, Tackett encourages students to look through many different options when choosing a career.

“Try a bunch of different stuff, see a bunch of different things,” said Tackett. “You never know what’s going to peak your interest and ignite your passion. So you got to go. You got to go find it.”