Firefly Alpha - FLTA007 – Last Flight of Block 1 [Live: 28.02.26; 00:50 UTC]

about 5 hours ago

Firefly Aerospace is an emerging player in the small satellite launch market. The Alpha rocket can deliver payloads of up to 1,030 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO, ~300 km) or 630 kg to Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO, ~500 km).

Like Rocket Lab's Electron, Alpha uses a fully carbon composite structure. It is larger, enabling greater payload capacity. Notably, its Reaver (Stage 1) and Lightning (Stage 2) engines employ a tap-off cycle—a design that has not previously achieved orbit.

For reference on engine operation:
Close-up Ignition of a Rocket Engine in Slow Mo - The Slow Mo Guys

Comparison Table

Rocket	Height (m)	Diameter (m)	Payload to SSO (kg)	Estimated Cost per Launch
Firefly Alpha	29.5	2.2	630	~$15–19 million
Electron	18	1.2	200–300	~$8 million

(Note: Alpha dimensions and performance from official Firefly specs; costs are approximate industry figures.)

As a developing launch provider, Firefly has experienced setbacks, including partial successes and failures on earlier flights. Flights 3 and 5 achieved success.

Mission Overview

FLTA007, named "Stairway to Seven," is a return-to-flight mission following the FLTA006 anomaly in 2025. This is the final launch of the current Block 1 configuration.

The flight will test and validate key subsystems in preparation for the Block II upgrade on Flight 8. Block II enhancements include:

~ 2,1 m increase in vehicle length
In-house consolidated batteries and avionics
Improved thermal protection system
Stronger carbon composite structures produced with automated processes

These Block II-related subsystems (e.g., in-house avionics and thermal upgrades) will fly in a test/shadow mode on FLTA007 to gather flight heritage and confirm prior lessons learned.

Payload: Test/demo (no commercial satellites; focused on vehicle validation)
Launch Site: SLC-2, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
Trajectory: Likely southwest for retrograde or polar orbit insertion

Source: fireflyspace.com