Watch the Launch

Additional Media

Watch Firefly launch their FIRST EVER orbital rocket, Alpha!

[TIME SUBJECT TO CHANGE] /// We will go live at T-60 minutes, so you can use the YouTube notification to know they are 60 minutes from launch] Also stay tune...

FLTA001 (Maiden Flight)

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Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Test Flight

Low Earth Orbit Space Launch Complex 2W Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA Probability: 100%

First flight of the new Firefly Alpha small sat launcher developed by Firefly Aerospace. It will carry Firefly’s DREAM (Dedicated Research & Education Accelerator Mission), which includes various payloads like cubesats, personal items, pictures, DNA samples and more to inspire young people to pursue STEM education.

Updates

SwGustav • Sept. 3, 2021, 2:05 a.m.

The launch vehicle was destroyed after reaching Max-Q, exact reason unknown yet.


Nosu • Sept. 2, 2021, 1:49 p.m.

Weather 100%


Nosu • Aug. 27, 2021, 10:26 p.m.

Launch window announced via EDA.


Firefly Alpha

Family: Firefly Alpha
Configuration:

Firefly Alpha (Firefly α) is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle developed by the American aerospace company Firefly Aerospace to cover the commercial small satellite launch market. Alpha is intended to provide launch options for both full vehicle and ride share customers.

See Firefly Alpha Details
Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    29.0 m
  • Diameter
    1.82 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    2.21 m
  • Launch Mass
    54 T
  • Thrust
    736 kN
Family
  • Name
    Firefly Alpha
  • Family
    Firefly Alpha
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Firefly Alpha
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $15000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    1000 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    630 kg

Firefly Aerospace

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Bill Weber Founded: 2014 Successes: 2 Failures: 1 Pending: 1

Agency Type: Commercial

Firefly Aerospace is an American private aerospace firm based in Austin, Texas, that develops small and medium-sized launch vehicles for commercial launches to orbit.

INFO WIKI

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SpaceNews

Firefly Alpha failure blamed on premature engine shutdown

Firefly Aerospace said Sept. 5 its first Alpha rocket failed when one of its first-stage engines shut down seconds after liftoff.

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Firefly’s Alpha rocket explodes on inaugural test launch

The first test flight of Firefly Aerospace’s privately-developed Alpha small satellite launcher ended in a fiery explosion soon after liftoff Thursday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Spaceflight Now

Firefly set for inaugural test launch from Vandenberg

The first test flight of Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha launch vehicle could take off as soon as Thursday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The four-hour launch window opens at 6 p.m. PDT (9 p.m. EDT) Thursday, or 0100 GMT Friday.

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Firefly Alpha explodes during first launch

Firefly Aerospace’s first launch of its Alpha rocket ended in failure when the rocket exploded two minutes after liftoff Sept. 2

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Firefly Aerospace’s maiden flight of Alpha launch vehicle ends in failure

Firefly Aerospace is set to perform the first orbital flight of their small satellite launch vehicle, Alpha. The launch, designated as FLTA001, is currently targeted for no earlier than 6:00 PM PDT on September 2 (01:00 UTC on September 3)…

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