Firefly Alpha

Firefly Alpha
Firefly Alpha lifting off the pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base on September 2, 2021
ManufacturerFirefly Aerospace
Country of originUnited States
Cost per launchUS$15–17.6 million[1]
Size
Height29 m (95 ft)
Diameter1.82 m (6 ft)
Mass54,000 kg (119,000 lb)
Stages2
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass1,030 kg (2,270 lb)[2]
Payload to SSO
Altitude500 km (310 mi)
Mass630 kg (1,390 lb)
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sitesVandenberg, SLC‑2W[3][4]
Wallops, LP-0A (planned)[5]
Cape Canaveral, SLC-20 (planned)[6]
Esrange, LC-3C (planned)[7]
Total launches5
Success(es)2
Failure(s)1
Partial failure(s)2
First flight3 September 2021 (3 September 2021)[8]
First stage
Powered by4 × Reaver
Maximum thrust736.1 kN (165,500 lbf)
Specific impulse295.6 s (2.899 km/s)
PropellantRP-1 / LOX
Second stage
Powered by1 × Lightning
Maximum thrust70.1 kN (15,800 lbf)
Specific impulse322 s (3.16 km/s)
PropellantRP-1 / LOX
[edit on Wikidata]

Firefly Alpha (Firefly α) is a two-stage orbital expendable small lift launch vehicle developed by the American company Firefly Aerospace to compete in the commercial small satellite launch market. Alpha is intended to provide launch options for both full vehicle and rideshare customers.[9]

The first launch attempt was on 3 September 2021 but the vehicle did not reach orbit when one of the first stage engines failed during ascent.[10] A second orbital test flight took place on 1 October 2022 and successfully reached orbit.[11] Alpha deployed 7 satellites, however, due to the lower than intended deployment orbit, most of the satellites re-entered before reaching their intended design life a week after launch.[12][13][14][15] The first fully successful launch of Alpha took place on 15 September 2023.

  1. ^ "U.S. SPACE FORCE SELECTS FIREFLY AEROSPACE FOR 'RAPID SPACE' VICTUS NOX MISSION". Firefly Aerospace. 5 October 2022. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference fa20221001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Clark, Stephen (2 May 2018). "Firefly's commercial satellite launcher to use Delta 2 pad at Vandenberg". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Firefly Alpha Payload User's Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Firefly Aerospace Adds Alpha Launch Capability on Wallops Island, Virginia". Firefly Aerospace. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  6. ^ Grush, Loren (22 February 2019). "Resurrected Firefly Aerospace will take over a launch site at busy Florida spaceport". The Verge. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Firefly to launch Alpha rockets from Esrange in Sweden".
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference ea-flta001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Firefly Alpha". Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Firefly's Alpha rocket explodes on inaugural test launch". Spaceflight Now. 3 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Watch Firefly's Second Orbital Launch Attempt Of Their Alpha Rocket!". Everyday Astronaut. October 2022. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "CelesTrak: International Designator 2022-122". Celestrak. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Reception of raw telemetry from PocketCubes QUBIK 3&4". 3 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  14. ^ "FOSSASat-1B seems to be alive and well". 1 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  15. ^ Foust, Jeff (10 October 2022). "Firefly says Alpha launch a success despite payload reentries". SpaceNews. Retrieved 10 October 2022.