AUSTIN, Texas – Firefly Aerospace’s fourth launch of the Alpha rocket encountered a glitch that prevented it from achieving the intended orbit, the company revealed on Tuesday. The mission, known as Fly the Lightning, took place on December 22, 2023, and involved the delivery of an electronically steerable antenna payload to low Earth orbit (LEO) for aerospace giant Lockheed Martin.
Despite successfully delivering the payload to LEO, the Alpha rocket failed to achieve the target orbit due to an error in the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) software algorithm. This prevented the system from sending the necessary pulse commands to the Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters ahead of the stage two engine relight. Consequently, Firefly Aerospace immediately initiated an investigation to address the mishap.
In a recent update, Firefly confirmed that they have identified the software issue and are implementing corrective actions to prevent similar issues in the future. The company also assured that the Alpha rocket will be ready for future flights in the coming months.
The malfunction did not impede the success of the mission, according to Firefly. The payload was deployed in an orbit that allowed the mission partner to complete their primary mission objectives, including the rapid commissioning of the satellite following insertion.
Fly the Lightning marked the fourth orbital mission for Firefly and Alpha. The first flight in September 2021 was a test mission that failed shortly after launch. The second flight in October 2022 saw the Alpha rocket delivering seven satellites to orbit but deploying them too low. The third launch in September 2023 for the U.S. Space Force was an unqualified success, setting a new record for a national security mission by launching just 27 hours after receiving the order.
Firefly’s commitment to identifying and addressing the software issue demonstrates their dedication to overcoming challenges and improving their rocket technology for future missions.