Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket explodes on third launch attempt
Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket suffered a catastrophic failure moments after liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking another setback for the small-launch vehicle. The incident, which occurred during its third flight test, destroyed the rocket and its payload. No injuries were reported, but the company now faces further delays in achieving reliable operations.
Firefly Aerospace attempted to launch its Alpha rocket on September 2025 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, aiming to deliver a payload for a government customer. The mission, designated as the third test flight for the two-stage, partially reusable vehicle, began with nominal ignition of the first-stage engines. However, approximately 10 seconds after liftoff, the rocket experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly—industry jargon for an explosion—scattering debris across the launch site.
This failure echoes earlier challenges for Firefly. The company's inaugural Alpha launch in 2021 also ended in an explosion due to a structural issue in the first stage. A second attempt in 2023 succeeded, carrying eight NASA payloads to orbit and demonstrating the rocket's potential in the competitive small-satellite launch market. Despite that progress, the latest mishap underscores ongoing development hurdles.
Firefly CEO Tom Markusic addressed the incident in a post-launch briefing, stating, 'We encountered an anomaly early in ascent that led to loss of the vehicle. Our team is already reviewing telemetry to understand what happened.' The company emphasized that all personnel remained safe, with the launch pad sustaining minimal damage thanks to robust safety protocols.
The Alpha rocket, powered by 24 Reaver engines in the first stage, is designed for rapid, low-cost launches of up to 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit. Firefly has secured contracts worth hundreds of millions from entities like the U.S. Space Force, betting on Alpha's agility to fill a niche left by larger providers like SpaceX. This failure, however, could strain those partnerships and delay future missions.
As of now, Firefly plans a thorough investigation in collaboration with regulators. The space industry, known for iterative failures leading to success, will watch closely as the startup works to mature its technology. Background context reveals Firefly's roots in the 2017 bankruptcy of Firefly Space, reborn under new leadership with backing from investors eyeing the burgeoning New Space economy.