Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket has been grounded indefinitely following a failed launch earlier this week, prompting a formal investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA confirmed that Firefly must identify and address the root cause of the mishap before the rocket can return to flight, a process that may also require modifications to the company’s launch license.
Firefly’s two-stage Alpha rocket stands on the launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California ahead of the launch of a payload for customer Lockheed Martin. Credit: Firefly Aerospace
The incident occurred during the April 29 mission, dubbed "Message in a Booster", which marked the sixth launch for Alpha, a 96.7-foot-tall (29.6-meter) two-stage vehicle. The mission lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California with the goal of deploying a prototype of Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 satellite bus into low Earth orbit. However, the rocket failed to reach its intended destination.
According to a post-launch statement from Firefly, the mission was compromised shortly after stage separation, when the nozzle extension of the upper stage’s Lightning engine detached, leading to a significant loss of thrust. While telemetry initially suggested the upper stage had climbed to an altitude of 320 kilometers (199 miles), the vehicle ultimately failed to reach orbital velocity. Both the upper stage and payload safely impacted the Pacific Ocean in a designated zone north of Antarctica.
The FAA emphasized that no return to flight will be permitted until it determines that “any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety.” In addition, Firefly may be required to amend its launch license to reflect corrective actions taken.
Firefly Aerospace will lead the mishap investigation, but the FAA will remain involved throughout the process and must formally approve the final report. The setback highlights ongoing reliability challenges for Alpha, which made its debut in September 2021. Of its six launches to date, only two have been fully successful.
As the investigation unfolds, Firefly’s launch operations will remain on hold, delaying future missions and adding pressure to improve the vehicle's performance amid rising competition in the small satellite launch sector.
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