Tag: Alpha
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Firefly launches Alpha rocket on NASA mission
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha FLTA005 rocket stands at Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) in support of the “Noise of Summer” mission. Image: Firefly Aerospace / Sean Parker Update 12:05 a.m.: Liftoff occurred on time this evening. Firefly Aerospace took more time before rescheduling its fifth Alpha rocket following a last minute ground systems issue Monday night.…
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Firefly successfully launched Alpha on Noise of Summer mission
After six months of preparation following its last flight, Firefly successfully launched the Alpha rocket on its fifth mission. After deciding to stand down from a July 2 launch attempt while teams evaluated and tested the systems responsible for aborting the launch on Monday, July 1, Firefly took off at 9:04 PM PDT on July…
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Software Glitch Doomed Firefly Aerospace’s Rocket Mission, Investigation Reveals
Firefly Aerospace disclosed on February 20th that a critical software malfunction sabotaged the upper stage of its Alpha rocket during a December launch, thwarting a planned second burn and stranding its payload in a low orbit. According to a statement issued by Firefly, an anomaly in the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) software hindered the…
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Firefly Aerospace launches its 4th Alpha rocket
Firefly’s Alpha rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on a mission for Lockheed Martin. Image: Firefly Aerospace/Trevor Mahlmann.
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Firefly suffers second stage anomaly on “Fly the Lightning” mission
Just on the heels of its success in integrating and launching a payload to orbit within 27 hours for the Space Force, Firefly Aerospace flew again — this time with a dedicated flight for Lockheed Martin. The Alpha FLTA004 mission lifted off from Space Launch Complex 2 West (SLC-2W) at California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base…
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Firefly’s Alpha successfully launches VICTUS NOX rapid response mission
Texas-based small launch company Firefly Aerospace jumpstarted its 2023 campaign with the launch of FLTA003 — the third flight of its Alpha launch vehicle — as part of a dedicated mission for the U.S. Space Force (USSF). Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 2 West (SLC-2W) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California happened on Thursday,…
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Firefly looking ahead after “To The Black” payloads reenter early
On Oct. 1, 2022, Firefly launched the “To The Black” mission which successfully deployed three satellites into low Earth orbit. However, space tracking data showed that the satellites were deployed at a lower-than-planned altitude, and just two weeks after launch, all payloads have reentered Earth’s atmosphere. Firefly has begun expansions to its test site in…
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Firefly succeeds on second Alpha flight
With the goal of successfully reaching orbit, Firefly successfully launched FLTA002 – its second demonstration flight of the Alpha launch vehicle – on the mission dubbed “To The Black.” Launching from Space Launch Complex 2 West (SLC-2W) at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the vehicle lifted off at 12:01 AM PDT (07:01 UTC)…
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Firefly Aerospace’s maiden flight of Alpha launch vehicle ends in failure
Firefly Aerospace suffered a failure during the first orbital flight of their small satellite launch vehicle, Alpha. The launch, designated as FLTA001, launched from Space Launch Complex 2 West at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California before blowing up during first stage flight. Firefly was aiming to become the fifth company to develop and fly…
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Firefly closes in on debut flight with rocket delivery to Vandenberg launch site
Across the world, several startup launch providers such as Relativity Space, Astra, Virgin Orbit, and others are currently in fierce competition with one another to bring their in-development rockets into operation and obtain a share of the ever-growing small satellite launch market. One of those companies – Texas-based Firefly Aerospace – has taken a substantial…