Another player has appeared in the satellite launch market. Firefly has successfully completed its first test
Rocket Firefly Aerospace Alpha 29 m highlaunched on October 1 at 10:01 am Moscow time from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This was the second orbital launch of Alpha. During the first in September 2021, one of the four engines of the first stage of the booster prematurely shut down, causing the mission to fail.
Launch vehicle "Alpha" during launch. Image: Everyday Astronaut, Firefly Astronaut
Everything went well this time:the two stages of the rocket separated after about 2.5 minutes. after launch, and the upper stage entered the elliptical transfer orbit after another 5 minutes. thereafter. Within an hour, all three payloads were on their intended trajectories, the company said.
Rocket payload - small satellitesthe size of a loaf of bread. Among them: a device for collecting data for the scientific community and experimental satellites of NASA and the non-profit organization Libre Space (outer space).
A picture taken by a spacecraft from orbit. Image: Everyday Astronaut, Firefly Astronaut
Alpha Disposable Rocket is designed fordelivery of small satellites into orbit. According to the organization, the rocket can lift up to 1,170 kg of cargo, and the cost of each launch for commercial customers will be $15 million.
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Cover image: Michael Baylor, NASA Spaceflight