Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket suffered a technical failure after launch on Tuesday, causing a Lockheed Martin satellite to crash into the Pacific Ocean.
About two minutes after liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Alpha’s upper-stage engine nozzle broke off during separation, "substantially reducing the engine's thrust," Firefly said.
Despite continuing to ascend to 320 kilometres, the rocket failed to reach orbit and reentered the atmosphere, impacting safely north of Antarctica.
The mission, Alpha’s sixth, was meant to carry Lockheed’s LM 400 Technology Demonstrator, designed to test technologies for defence clients. A Lockheed spokesman said lessons from the project would benefit future customers.
Firefly’s livestream showed debris detaching during ascent, and the company later deleted an initial post acknowledging a lower-than-planned orbit. An investigation with Lockheed, the U.S. Space Force, and FAA is underway.
The failure marks Alpha’s fourth setback in six attempts since 2021. Firefly, aiming to compete with SpaceX, has seen mixed fortunes, including a moon landing earlier this year.
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