Firefly Alpha is a small-lift launch vehicle developed by Firefly Aerospace. Its maiden launch was on September 3, 2021.
Launch statistics
Launch outcomes
Launch sites
Rocket configurations
Launch history +Flight No.NameDate / time (UTC)Rocket, configurationLaunch sitePayloadOrbitCustomerLaunch outcome1"DREAM"3 September 202101:59Firefly Alpha Block IVandenberg, SLC-2WVariousRetrograde LEOVariousMaiden flight of the Firefly Alpha; carrying various payloads as part of their Dedicated Research and Education Accelerator Mission program. Due to an engine failure approximately 15 seconds after the launch, the rocket lost control at transonic speed approximately two and a half minutes after launch that resulted in the activation of the flight termination system and loss of the vehicle.2"To The Black"1 October 202207:01Firefly Alpha Block IVandenberg, SLC-2WTechEdSat-15 (TES-15), TIS Serenity, PicoBus (deploying five PocketQubes)Retrograde LEONASA Ames, SJSU, Teachers in Space, Inc., Libre Space Foundation, Fossa Systems, AMSAT-EAFirst partially successful orbital launch, carrying educational payloads, including a hosted payload, Firefly Capsule 2. Alpha deployed 7 satellites; however, due to the lower than intended final deployment orbit (219 km x 279 km, intended 300 km), most of the satellites re-entered approximately a week after launch.3"VICTUS NOX"15 September 202302:28Firefly Alpha Block IVandenberg, SLC-2WVICTUS NOXSSOU.S. Space Force (SSC)Tactically Responsive Space-3 (TacRS-3) mission to display rapid response launch capabilities — the payload was integrated and launched 27 hours after launch order were received from the customer. First fully successful launch of Alpha. Second stage performed a re-ignition for a controlled deorbit. VICTUS NOX decayed from orbit on January 28, 2025.4"Fly The Lightning"22 December 202317:32Firefly Alpha Block IVandenberg, SLC-2WTantrumLEOLockheed MartinDedicated commercial launch, carrying an Electronically Steerable Antenna technology demonstrator payload for Lockheed Martin integrated on a Terran Orbital Nebula satellite bus. Stage 2 engine relight did not deliver the payload to its planned target orbit. Communications to the spacecraft were established and some mission operations took place. The satellite decayed on February 10, 2024, at approximately 15:00 UTC.5"Noise Of Summer"4 July 202404:04Firefly Alpha Block IVandenberg, SLC-2WVCLS Demo-2FBSSONASANASA Venture Class Launch Services 2 (VCLS 2) Mission Two, officially known as VCLS Demo-2FB. The ELaNa 43 mission, consisting of eight CubeSats, launched on this flight.6"Message In A Booster"29 April 202513:37Firefly Alpha Block IVandenberg, SLC-2WLM 400 DemoLEOLockheed MartinCarried an experimental satellite for Lockheed Martin in the first of 15 launches contracted through 2029, with options for 10 more. A mishap during stage separation damaged the second stage engine, substantially reducing thrust and preventing the payload from reaching orbital velocity.7"Stairway To Seven"12 March 202600:50Firefly Alpha Block IVandenberg, SLC-2WTest payloadLEOFirefly AerospaceReturn-to-flight mission following the failure of "Message In A Booster" in April 2025. Test flight for validating various systems components to be used on Block II. Also carried a demonstrator payload for Lockheed Martin. Final Block I launch.
Future launches Future launches are listed chronologically when firm plans are in place. The order of the later launches is much less certain. Launches are expected to take place "no earlier than" (NET) the listed date. +Date / time (UTC)Rocket, configurationLaunch sitePayloadOrbitCustomerQ2 2026Firefly Alpha Block IIVandenberg, SLC-2WVICTUS HAZE JackalLEOU.S. Space Force (SSC)Planned maiden flight of Block II. Part of the United States Space Force's Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) program. Will carry the Jackal Autonomous Orbital Vehicle manufactured by True Anomaly.Q3 2026Firefly Alpha Block IIVandenberg, SLC-2WQuickSounderLEONOAAFirst satellite in NOAA's Near Earth Orbit Network (NEON) Program.2026Firefly Alpha Block IIVandenberg, SLC-2WEOS SAR 1SSOEOS Data AnalyticsFirst EOS synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) constellation satellite.2026Firefly Alpha Block IIVandenberg, SLC-2WTacSatLEOLockheed MartinSecond of 15 launches contracted by Lockheed Martin through 2029. Formerly slated to launch in Q2 2025.2026Firefly Alpha Block IIVandenberg, SLC-2WOTB-2LEOGeneral AtomicsPart of General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group's Orbital Test Bed (OTB) program, designed to host experiments created by various customers.2026Firefly Alpha Block IIVandenberg, SLC-2WVICTUS SOLLEOU.S. Space Force (SSC)Part of the United States Space Force's Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) program.2026Firefly Alpha Block IIVandenberg, SLC-2WTBALEOL3HarrisFirst of three dedicated launches for L3Harris.2026Firefly Alpha Block IIVandenberg, SLC-2WTBALEOL3HarrisSecond of three dedicated launches for L3Harris.2026Firefly Alpha Block IIVandenberg, SLC-2WTBALEOL3HarrisThird of three dedicated launches for L3Harris.2027Firefly Alpha Block IIMARS, LP-0AINCUSLEONASAPart of NASA's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) program. First announced Alpha launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops.TBDFirefly Alpha Block IITBDDedicated rideshare missionLEOSpaceflight, Inc.Dedicated smallsat rideshare mission to low Earth orbit utilizing Firefly's Elytra Dawn orbital tug.TBDFirefly Alpha Block IITBDSatlantis EO ConstellationLEOSatlantisSatlantis earth observation satellite constellation.
See also
List of Electron launches List of Vega launches List of SSLV launches
References