FLTA006 (Message in a Booster)
Firefly Alpha
Firefly Aerospace
Rocket Launch Video
Weather Forecast During Launch
According to weather officials, there's a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch. The forecast calls for a temperature of 51°F, broken clouds, 60% cloud cover and a wind speed of 9mph.
Rocket Launch Timeline
Enhance your rocket launch experience with a detailed timeline! From pre-launch preparations to post-launch milestones, a well-structured schedule ensures every step—payload prep, safety checks, and liftoff—runs smoothly. Stay informed and follow the action with precision.
| T- 00 : 00 : 02 | Ignition Start of the engine ignition sequence |
| T+ 00 : 00 : 00 | Liftoff First upwards movement of the rocket |
| T+ 00 : 00 : 56 | Supersonic Vehicle is supersonic |
| T+ 00 : 01 : 06 | Max-Q Maximum dynamic pressure |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 33 | MECO Cut-off of the main engine |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 37 | Stage 2 Separation Separation of the second stage from the first |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 39 | SES Start of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 58 | Fairing Separation Separation of the payload fairing |
| T+ 00 : 08 : 28 | SECO Cut-off of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 12 : 42 | Payload Separation Final deployment of the payload from the rocket |
Mission
FLTA006 (Message in a Booster)
- Type: Technology
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
- Launch Cost: $15,000,000
Sixth flight of the Firefly Alpha small satellite launcher, launching the demonstration mission for Lockheed Martin's new LM400 satellite bus, which will carry a communications payload. The satellite bus is customizable to support different missions, including remote sensing, communications, imagery and radar Earth observations. It can also support different kinds of orbits and launch configurations.
Problem during stage separation and second stage ignition caused disintegration of the separated 1st stage and the loss of the Lightning engine nozzle extension on the 2nd stage, substantially reducing the engine’s thrust. 2nd stage reached 320 km in altitude but did not reach orbital velocity, eventually impacted the Pacific Ocean north of Antarctica.
Location
Space Launch Complex 2W
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Find the best place to watch the launch from Vandenberg
Space Launch Complex 2W has witnessed the launch of 98 rockets, including 98 orbital launch attempts. While Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, has been the site for 804 rocket launches.
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
Rocket
Firefly Aerospace Firefly Alpha
Firefly Alpha (Firefly α) is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle developed by the American aerospace company Firefly Aerospace to cover the commercial small satellite launch market. Alpha is intended to provide launch options for both full vehicle and ride share customers.
Agency
Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is an American private aerospace firm based in Austin, Texas, that develops small and medium-sized launch vehicles for commercial launches to orbit.
Sending out an sos……
I’m calling The Police for this comment.
If the weather is clear, I will be able to see this from Fremont ca.
What is the trajectory path direction?
Again, too late! Launch an hor. Earlier!
I am not sure what you are trying to say?
Very competent young lady.
Kingman, AZ, I could NOT see anything, the sun was up too high. 😢
Blue sky, but could not see anything from Simi Valley, CA