flown missionFailure

Firefly Alpha | FLTA006 (Message in a Booster)

Firefly AerospaceSpace Launch Complex 2W — Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Either the launch vehicle did not reach orbit, or the payload(s) failed to separate.

mission

Name
FLTA006 (Message in a Booster)
Type
Technology
Target orbit
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Weather probability
90% go

Sixth flight of the Firefly Alpha small satellite launcher, launching the demonstration mission for Lockheed Martin's new LM400 satellite bus, which will carry a communications payload. The satellite bus is customizable to support different missions, including remote sensing, communications, imagery and radar Earth observations. It can also support different kinds of orbits and launch configurations.

schedule

NET (no earlier than)
Window opens
Window closes
Last updated
Fail reason
Problem during stage separation and second stage ignition caused disintegration of the separated 1st stage and the loss of the Lightning engine nozzle extension on the 2nd stage, substantially reducing the engine’s thrust. 2nd stage reached 320 km in altitude but did not reach orbital velocity, eventually impacted the Pacific Ocean north of Antarctica.

vehicle & provider

Rocket
Firefly Alpha
Family
Firefly Alpha
Provider
Firefly Aerospace
Type
Commercial
Country
USA

webcasts

launch site

Pad
Space Launch Complex 2W
Location
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Country
USA
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles