Alpha FLTA006 is the second mission Firefly is launching for Lockheed Martin and the first of Firefly’s multi-launch agreement with Lockheed Martin that includes up to 25 missions over the next five years. This mission will launch Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 tech demo to prove out the risk-reduction and pathfinding efforts the company has done for its multi-mission satellite bus. Launching the mid-size satellite to low Earth orbit, FLTA006 will further validate Alpha’s robust performance to take customers directly to their preferred orbits as the only operational 1 metric ton rocket.

Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 Technology Demonstrator is the latest in a series of self-funded missions by the company to demonstrate the maturity of new technology on orbit and reduce risk for their customers. The LM 400 tech demo was specifically built to showcase the company’s pathfinding efforts for its LM 400 mid-sized, multi-mission satellite bus, and to demonstrate the space vehicle’s operational capabilities on orbit for potential customers. As a platform, Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 is the company’s most flexible satellite bus, capable of serving military, commercial or civil customers. It can be customized to host a variety of missions – including remote sensing, communications, imaging and radar – and operate in any orbit.

Courtesy of Firefly.

The Firefly Alpha is a small-lift launch vehicle developed by Firefly Aerospace. It is designed to provide a cost-effective, reliable option for launching payloads to low Earth orbit (LEO) for commercial, civil, and national security missions.

Specs

Height: 29 m (95 ft)

Diameter: 1.82 m (6 ft)

Mass: 54,000 kg (119,000 lb)

Stages: 2

Payload to LEO (Low Earth Orbit): 1,030 kg (2,270 lb)

Payload to SSO (Sun-Synchronous Orbit): 630 kg (1,390 lb)

First Flight: September 2021

The Alpha uses a tap-off cycle engine for its first stage, with four Reaver engines providing the necessary thrust for launch. The second stage is powered by a single Lightning engine, optimized for vacuum conditions. Alpha is designed for fast, responsive launches, capable of sending payloads to orbit with just 24 hours' notice.

This rocket is primarily intended for launching small satellites and serves as a flexible, on-demand launch solution. The Alpha is part of Firefly’s efforts to provide quick access to space and support a wide range of mission types.

Courtesy of Firefly Aerospace. Photo courtesy of Tom Cross for Supercluster.

SLC-2W (Space Launch Complex 2W) is a launch pad located at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Originally built in the 1960s for the Titan II missile program, it has since been repurposed to support orbital launches. The facility is primarily used for launches that require polar orbits and sun-synchronous orbits (SSO), making it a key site for missions that involve spacecraft requiring these specific trajectories.

Today, SLC-2W is used by several commercial launch providers, including Firefly Aerospace, which conducts launches of their Alpha rocket from the site. The pad has also supported various other rockets over the years, such as the Delta II and Minotaur rockets. Its location over the Pacific Ocean provides a clear and safe launch path, especially for missions that involve high-inclination orbits. This launch complex plays a significant role in enabling small and medium-lift rockets to access space efficiently and safely.

Photo courtesy of Firefly Aerospace, Inc.