Firefly Alpha (Firefly α) is a two-stage orbital expendablelaunch vehicle developed by the American aerospace company Firefly Aerospace to compete in the commercial small satellite launch market. Alpha is intended to provide launch options for both full vehicle and ride share customers.[1]
The first test flight launch was on 3 September 2021 at approximately 01:59 UTC, from a leased pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Between two and three minutes after liftoff there was an anomaly causing a complete loss.[6]
Design
Alpha was initially designed with a first stage powered by an FRE-2 engine, which consisted of twelve nozzles arranged in an aerospike configuration.[7][8] The engine used methane, as opposed to RP-1. The second stage was to be propelled by the FRE-1 engine, which used a conventional bell nozzle. It was intended to launch 400 kg to low Earth orbit.[9][10]
After the March 2017 Firefly bankruptcy and corporate reorganization,[11] Alpha was redesigned. The vehicle now uses two stages, both 1.8 m in diameter, filled with RP-1/LOX propellant. The main body of the rocket is constructed using a lightweight carbon composite material.[3]
Alpha's first stage is powered by four Reaver 1 LOX / RP-1tap-off cycle engines,[12] delivering 736.1 kN (165,500 lbf) of thrust. The second stage is powered by one Lightning 1 LOX / RP-1 engine, delivering 70.1 kN (15,800 lbf) of thrust. Lightning 1 was test-run for nearly 5 minutes on 15 March 2018 during a long duration test fire. The engine was fired at Firefly's Test Stand 1 in Briggs, Texas.[13][14]
The Alpha airframe uses all carbon-fibercomposite material in its construction. Using carbon-fiber makes the rocket more fuel efficient because the use of denser materials like titanium and aluminum would result in a heavier airframe, which would require more fuel to launch.[13]
In March 2018, Firefly said that the development of Alpha was expected to cost approximately US$100 million.[13]
Intended usage
Alpha is designed to launch a 1000 kg payload to a 200 km low Earth orbit, or a 630 kg payload to a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit, suitable for CubeSats and other small payloads. Primary payloads can be integrated by themselves or with a secondary payload, with capacity for up to 6 CubeSats.[1][3] This allows Firefly's customers to have a dedicated small-satellite launcher, reducing the issues of ride-sharing payloads and secondary payloads. These smaller satellites can have an orbit that is not determined by a larger payload and can launch on their own schedule instead of waiting on the readiness of all other payloads.
In 2015, NASA's Launch Services Program awarded Firefly Aerospace a US$5.5 million Venture Class Launch Services contract to develop Alpha to enable easier access to the small satellite market.[15][16]
Firefly Aerospace plans to use a Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) to integrate payloads.[3]
Alpha is also intended to be a direct American competitor in the small satellite market to India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), as they believe its ride-share capability in the market threatens U.S. domestic launchers.[17]
The first launch of Alpha happened on 3 September 2021 at 01:59 UTC.,[5][18] from a leased pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and was to fly southwest over the Pacific Ocean.
Between two and three minutes after liftoff there was an anomaly causing a complete loss.[6]
Benchmark Space, Firefly, Libre Space Foundation, Fossa Systems, AMSAT-EA, Hawaii Science and Technology Museum, Purdue University, Teachers in Space, Inc., and others.
Maiden flight of the Firefly Alpha; carrying various payloads as part of their DREAM mission.[23] Firefly's experimental Space Utility Vehicle (SUV) third stage was also onboard this flight. Due to an engine failure approximately 15 seconds after the launch, the rocket lost control at trans-sonic speeds approximately two and a half minutes after launch that resulted in the activation of the flight termination system and loss of the vehicle.[6]
NASA Venture Class Launch Services 2 (VCLS 2) Mission Two, officially known as VCLS Demo-2FB. The ELaNa 43 mission, consisting of 11 CubeSats, will launch on this flight.[29][30]
^Foust, Jeff (3 November 2021). "Firefly Aerospace hires former Air Force officer to lead space transportation sales". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 November 2021. [T]he first stage of the second Alpha rocket will go on a test stand late this week, followed by the second stage. The vehicle should be at Vandenberg in December for a launch planned for late January. If that next launch is successful, Markusic said Firefly plans four more Alpha launches in 2022. That includes a launch for NASA's Venture Class Launch Services program, slated to be the fourth Alpha launch.
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Symbol † indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)
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