Watch the Launch

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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)

Circle Image

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

Nosu • Aug. 27, 2021, 10:26 p.m.

Launch window announced via EDA.


spacevogel • Aug. 19, 2021, 7:30 p.m.

Launch is NET Sep 2.


Cosmic_Penguin • May 4, 2021, 1:40 p.m.

Launch is NET mid-June.


SwGustav • Jan. 29, 2021, 7:38 p.m.

NET March 14th


spacevogel • Nov. 27, 2020, 6:09 p.m.

Launch is NET January 2021


Firefly Alpha

Family:
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 Details
Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    29.0 m
  • Diameter
    1.82 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    2.21 m
  • Launch Mass
    54.0 T
  • Thrust
    736.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Firefly Alpha
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Firefly Alpha
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $15000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    1000.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    630.0 kg

Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace

(FA)

CEO: Peter Schumacher Founded: 2014 Successes: 3 Failures: 2 Pending: 3

Agency Type:

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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Firefly Alpha failure blamed on premature engine shutdown

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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.

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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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