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.
Iranian state television on Tuesday called on citizens to delete WhatsApp from their smartphones, claiming without providing specific evidence that the Meta-owned messaging platform was collecting user data to send to Israel.
As Armenia prepares to host the 8th European Political Community Summit and Baku gets ready for the 12th, Caucasus Now explores a critical question: are external actors truly invested in peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
Texas has halted new funding for construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, a major policy shift after four years of investment in one of Governor Greg Abbott’s flagship immigration initiatives.
Our NewsHour presenter Guy Shone examined the geopolitical ripple effects of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran during the G7 summit, where U.S. President Donald Trump’s early exit drew worldwide attention.
Australia is set to begin negotiations on a new security and defence partnership with the European Union, while also pushing for a long-anticipated trade agreement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced at the G7 summit.
Iranian state television on Tuesday called on citizens to delete WhatsApp from their smartphones, claiming without providing specific evidence that the Meta-owned messaging platform was collecting user data to send to Israel.
Texas has halted new funding for construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, a major policy shift after four years of investment in one of Governor Greg Abbott’s flagship immigration initiatives.
Australia is set to begin negotiations on a new security and defence partnership with the European Union, while also pushing for a long-anticipated trade agreement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced at the G7 summit.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on Tuesday that Japan and the United States have not reached a comprehensive tariff agreement, with key disagreements persisting between the two economic powers.
U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly disputed the intelligence community's assessment of Iran's nuclear activities, marking a notable split between the White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has alleged that Meta Platforms offered signing bonuses as high as $100 million to OpenAI employees in an attempt to recruit top talent, underscoring the intensifying competition among tech firms for artificial intelligence expertise.
The Trump Organization has unveiled "Trump Mobile," a $499 smartphone and wireless service aimed at conservative consumers, marking its entry into the highly competitive telecom market.
Scientists at the South China University of Technology have engineered a new ceramic material that pushes the boundaries of heat resistance, a development with major implications for hypersonic flight, rocket engines, and energy production.
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has announced a landmark shift in its electoral process, declaring that the general elections scheduled for mid-2026 will be conducted using a fully digital system.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has announced Finland's ambition to host a European AI gigafactory. The move aims to boost national growth by building on the success of the LUMI supercomputer, with telecommunications giant Nokia poised to lead the project's business consortium.
Iranian state television on Tuesday called on citizens to delete WhatsApp from their smartphones, claiming without providing specific evidence that the Meta-owned messaging platform was collecting user data to send to Israel.
Texas has halted new funding for construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, a major policy shift after four years of investment in one of Governor Greg Abbott’s flagship immigration initiatives.
Australia is set to begin negotiations on a new security and defence partnership with the European Union, while also pushing for a long-anticipated trade agreement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced at the G7 summit.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on Tuesday that Japan and the United States have not reached a comprehensive tariff agreement, with key disagreements persisting between the two economic powers.
U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly disputed the intelligence community's assessment of Iran's nuclear activities, marking a notable split between the White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East.
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