Firefly Aerospace Launch Successful But Mission Deemed a Failure

Update by the edhat staff
December 22, 2023

Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha FLTA004 rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 2 at 9:32 a.m. Friday at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Space Launch Delta 30 Guardians and Airmen provided vital spaceport capabilities in support of the Firefly Aerospace mission, called Fly the Lightning, which was carrying a payload for Lockheed Martin.

Although, a problem with the upper stage of the Alpha rocket placed the Lockheed demonstration satellite into the wrong orbit.

Firefly did not provide an update about the status of the launch until releasing a statement 12 hours after launch that the second stage malfunctioned.

“Alpha’s scheduled stage 2 engine relight did not deliver the payload to its precise target orbit,” the company said. “We will work with our customer and government partners to investigate the stage 2 performance and determine the root cause.”

The full launch can be viewed below:

Update by the edhat staff
December 19, 2023

Wednesday’s launch attempt of the Firefly Alpha rocket has been scrubbed due to weather conditions.

Firefly will work with the range to determine the next launch opportunity and will release more details when they are available.

By the edhat staff

Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha FLTA004 rocket is scheduled to launch Wednesday, December 20, between 9:18 – 9:39 a.m. from Vandenberg Space Force Base, conducted by Space Launch Delta 30 Guardians, Airmen and Firefly Aerospace.

The mission, called Fly the Lightning, will launch a payload for Lockheed Martin.

U.S. Space Force Col. Bryan Titus, Space Launch Delta 30 vice commander, is the launch decision authority.

“At Vandenberg Space Force Base, our Space Launch Delta 30 Guardians and Airmen play a vital role in delivering robust spaceport capabilities that directly provide the “to” part of U.S. Space Force’s mission to secure our Nation’s interests in, from, and to space,” Titus said. “Our commercial launch partners serve as our invaluable industrial base, enabling us to achieve robust national security objectives in support of the entire Joint Force.”