Latest news with #LM400TechnologyDemonstrator
Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Firefly's Alpha rocket fails in space, sends Lockheed satellite falling into ocean
US company Firefly Aerospace's rocket, Firefly Alpha, performing a booster separation, after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on April 29. - Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket suffered a technical issue on April 29 as it ascended into space on its sixth flight, causing a Lockheed Martin satellite it was supposed to place into orbit to crash into the Pacific Ocean. About two minutes following lift-off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the engine nozzle on Alpha's upper portion broke off in space moments after it attempted to separate from the rocket's core booster as designed, 'substantially reducing the engine's thrust', Firefly said. While typical rocket mishaps trigger explosions or on-board shutdown commands, Alpha's upper rocket body fired for several minutes and ascended to 320km in altitude. But it failed to reach its intended orbit and was pulled back into the atmosphere by Earth's gravity. 'The stage and payload have now safely impacted the Pacific Ocean in a cleared zone north of Antarctica,' Firefly said. During Alpha's ascent, a company livestream of the flight showed several pieces of debris flying off the rocket. On-screen altitude and speed data disappeared moments before, earlier than usual. With the April 29 events, four of six Alpha flights since 2021 have failed. Firefly, which was able to achieve a breakthrough moon landing in March, is vying with a handful of similar upstarts seeking to build a launch business in a market dominated by billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX. The Alpha mission was the first under an agreement between Firefly and Lockheed for up to 25 flights through 2029. The satellite was self-funded by Lockheed and called LM 400 Technology Demonstrator, an effort to test technologies that Lockheed plans to sell to other customers, such as the Pentagon. 'Navigating risk and going fast are part of these self-funded demonstrations,' a Lockheed spokesman said, adding that the satellite's production yielded insights that will benefit future customers. About an hour after the launch, Firefly posted on social media platform X that a mishap put 'the vehicle in a lower-than-planned orbit', then deleted that statement. The company said it was working with Lockheed, the US Space Force and Federal Aviation Administration to determine the root cause of the failure. With Alpha, Firefly hopes to fulfil demand from the US Defence Department for launching national security payloads into space, particularly under tight timelines. The company had a successful launch in 2023 in a Space Force mission to demonstrate rapid-launch capabilities. Founded in 2014, Austin-based Firefly went bankrupt in 2017, changed ownership amid US national security concerns in 2022, ousted its chief executive officer over an inappropriate relationship in 2024 then landed on the moon on its first try in March. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
AsiaOne
30-04-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
Firefly's Alpha rocket fails in space, sends Lockheed satellite falling into ocean, World News
WASHINGTON — Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket suffered a technical issue on Tuesday (April 29) as it ascended into space on its sixth flight, causing a Lockheed Martin satellite it was supposed to place into orbit to crash into the Pacific Ocean. About two minutes following liftoff from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the engine nozzle on Alpha's upper portion broke off in space moments after it attempted to separate from the rocket's core booster as designed, "substantially reducing the engine's thrust," Firefly said. While typical rocket mishaps trigger explosions or on-board shutdown commands, Alpha's upper rocket body fired for several minutes and ascended to 320km in altitude. But it failed to reach its intended orbit and was pulled back into the atmosphere by Earth's gravity. "The stage and payload have now safely impacted the Pacific Ocean in a cleared zone north of Antarctica," Firefly said. During Alpha's ascent, a company livestream of the flight showed several pieces of debris flying off the rocket. On-screen altitude and speed data disappeared moments before, earlier than usual. With Tuesday's events, four of six Alpha flights since 2021 have failed. Firefly, which was able to achieve a breakthrough moon landing in March, is vying with a handful of similar upstarts seeking to build a launch business in a market dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX. The Alpha mission was the first under an agreement between Firefly and Lockheed for up to 25 flights through 2029. The satellite was self-funded by Lockheed and called LM 400 Technology Demonstrator, an effort to test technologies that Lockheed plans to sell to other customers, such as the Pentagon. "Navigating risk and going fast are part of these self-funded demonstrations," a Lockheed spokesman said, adding that the satellite's production yielded insights that will benefit future customers. About an hour after the launch, Firefly posted on X that a mishap put "the vehicle in a lower than planned orbit," then deleted that statement. The company said it was working with Lockheed, the US Space Force and the Federal Aviation Administration to determine the root cause of the failure. With Alpha, Firefly hopes to fulfill demand from the US Defence Department for launching national security payloads into space, particularly under tight timelines. The company had a successful launch in 2023 in a Space Force mission to demonstrate rapid-launch capabilities. Founded in 2014, Austin-based Firefly went bankrupt in 2017, changed ownership amid US national security concerns in 2022, ousted its CEO over an inappropriate relationship in 2024 then landed on the moon on its first try in March. [[nid:717456]]
The Star
29-04-2025
- Science
- The Star
Firefly's Alpha rocket, Lockheed satellite fall into ocean after failed launch
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket suffered a technical issue on Tuesday as it ascended into space on its sixth flight, causing a Lockheed Martin satellite it was supposed to place into orbit to crash into the Pacific Ocean. About two minutes following liftoff from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the engine nozzle on Alpha's upper portion broke off in space moments after it attempted to separate from the rocket's core booster as designed, "substantially reducing the engine's thrust," Firefly said. While typical rocket mishaps trigger explosions or on-board shutdown commands, Alpha's upper rocket body fired for several minutes and ascended to 320 km (200 miles) in altitude. But it failed to reach its intended orbit and was pulled back into the atmosphere by Earth's gravity. "The stage and payload have now safely impacted the Pacific Ocean in a cleared zone north of Antarctica," Firefly said. During Alpha's ascent, a company livestream of the flight showed several pieces of debris flying off the rocket. On-screen altitude and speed data disappeared moments before, earlier than usual. With Tuesday's events, four of six Alpha flights since 2021 have failed. Firefly, which was able to achieve a breakthrough moon landing in March, is vying with a handful of similar upstarts seeking to build a launch business in a market dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX. The Alpha mission was the first under an agreement between Firefly and Lockheed for up to 25 flights through 2029. The satellite was self-funded by Lockheed and called LM 400 Technology Demonstrator, an effort to test technologies that Lockheed plans to sell to other customers, such as the Pentagon. "Navigating risk and going fast are part of these self-funded demonstrations," a Lockheed spokesman said, adding that the satellite's production yielded insights that will benefit future customers. About an hour after the launch, Firefly posted on X that a mishap put "the vehicle in a lower than planned orbit," then deleted that statement. The company said it was working with Lockheed, the U.S. Space Force and Federal Aviation Administration to determine the root cause of the failure. With Alpha, Firefly hopes to fulfill demand from the U.S. Defense Department for launching national security payloads into space, particularly under tight timelines. The company had a successful launch in 2023 in a Space Force mission to demonstrate rapid-launch capabilities. Founded in 2014, Austin-based Firefly went bankrupt in 2017, changed ownership amid U.S. national security concerns in 2022, ousted its CEO over an inappropriate relationship in 2024 then landed on the moon on its first try in March. (Reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Mark Porter, Alexandra Hudson and Cynthia Osterman)
Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Science
- Straits Times
Problem with Firefly's Alpha rocket puts Lockheed satellite in shallow orbit
WASHINGTON - Firefly Aerospace said the sixth mission of its Alpha rocket suffered a mishap in space after launching from California on Tuesday, putting a satellite owned by Lockheed Martin in a "lower than planned orbit," suggesting a potential mission failure. Firefly said in a post on X that the mishap occurred during separation of Alpha's core stage booster with its second stage roughly two and a half minutes after liftoff. The faulty separation "impacted the Stage 2 Lightning engine nozzle, putting the vehicle in a lower than planned orbit." The company said it was working with Lockheed to determine the root cause of the failure. Lockheed did not immediately respond to a question on whether it believes its satellite could still reach its orbit or otherwise survive the mishap. "We're still gathering and analyzing all the data to confirm the status of the payload," a Firefly spokesperson said in an email. The mishap tallies four Alpha failures since its first flight in 2021 as Firefly, which achieved a breakthrough success in landing on the moon in March, tries to build its centerpiece launch business in a market dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX. As Alpha ascended into space on Tuesday, a company live stream of the flight showed several particles flying off the rocket upon stage separation, as the second stage boosted the Lockheed satellite further into space. On-screen altitude and speed data had disappeared moments before, earlier than usual. A camera on the second stage showed its engine firing but apparently without its nozzle, as the first stage booster fell adrift miles away back to Earth. The Lockheed satellite remained intact and attached to the second stage while it rocked in a circular motion, with Earth's horizon in the background swaying. "Little bit of motion there," noted one of the live stream's two anchors, who did not acknowledge any issue with the flight. The mission was the first in an agreement between Firefly and Lockheed covering up to 25 missions over the next five years. Tuesday's payload was a satellite self-funded by Lockheed called LM 400 Technology Demonstrator, meant to advance space technologies and lower risk for its customers, such as the Pentagon. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
