Firefly Aerospace Launches Alpha Rocket, Fails to Reach Orbit After Stage Separation Anomaly

Moment of Anomaly from live webcast // Screenshot: NSF/Firefly Aerospace

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, California — April 28, 2025

Firefly Aerospace launched its Alpha rocket early Monday morning on a mission titled “Message In A Booster”, carrying Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 Technology Demonstration satellite. Liftoff occurred at 06:19 AM PDT from Vandenberg’s SLC-2W, marking the sixth flight of the Alpha vehicle.

Initial ascent appeared nominal, with the first stage performing as expected. However, just over two and a half minutes into flight, the vehicle suffered an anomaly during stage separation. According to preliminary analysis, the nozzle extension on the second stage Lightning engine detached prematurely, leading to a significant loss of thrust.

As a result, Alpha reached an apogee of approximately 320 kilometers, but failed to achieve orbital velocity. The rocket and payload reentered the atmosphere shortly after and safely impacted the Pacific Ocean in a designated safety zone north of Antarctica.

A High-Profile Payload

The LM 400 satellite was developed by Lockheed Martin as a modular spacecraft platform intended for rapid technology demonstrations in orbit. This mission was the first in a broader agreement between Lockheed Martin and Firefly Aerospace that includes up to 25 launches through 2029. Despite the mission's failure to reach orbit, Lockheed emphasized the value of data collected and reaffirmed its commitment to the Firefly partnership.

“Demonstration missions like these are about taking calculated risks to push technology forward,” a Lockheed Martin spokesperson said. “We’ll learn from this and continue advancing the LM 400 platform.”

Firefly’s Track Record

Today’s mission marks another critical moment in Firefly’s path toward becoming a dependable small-launch provider. Out of six Alpha launches to date, two have achieved full mission success, with the rest encountering partial or complete failures. The company did, however, successfully demonstrate rapid launch readiness and integration timelines — a key selling point for commercial and defense customers.

Firefly is now conducting a joint investigation with Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Space Force, and the FAA to determine the root cause of the nozzle extension failure and to implement corrective actions ahead of its next launch.

Looking Ahead

Despite the setback, Firefly Aerospace’s broader momentum remains strong. The company continues to expand operations at Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral and is developing its larger Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV) in partnership with Northrop Grumman. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin’s interest in rapid-response launch capabilities suggests continued confidence in Firefly’s future.

This morning’s outcome underscores the challenging path of space launch, particularly for emerging players in a competitive small-sat delivery market. Firefly’s ability to swiftly diagnose and address the anomaly will be critical in maintaining customer trust and momentum heading into the second half of 2025.