Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket accelerates from SLC-2 at Vandenberg Space Force Base on September 2, 2021.
Andrew Evers | CNBC
The space company Firefly launched its first alpha rocket over the California coast on a cloudless Thursday evening.
The Alpha missile lifted off the SLC-2 complex at Vandenberg Space Force Base and climbed west over the Pacific.
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket takes off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on September 2, 2021.
Andrew Evers | CNBC
But about 2½ minutes after takeoff, Firefly’s missile began to tip overhead and explode in midair.
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha missile’s flight demolition system detonates after it was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base on September 2, 2021.
Andrew Evers | CNBC
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha missile explodes in a ball of fire in the skies over California after being launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base on September 2, 2021.
Andrew Evers | CNBC
The company’s first alpha rocket explodes during its orbital launch attempt on September 2, 2021.
Firefly aerospace
Vandenberg’s Space Launch Delta 30 unit confirmed that it triggered the alpha missile’s flight abort system and caused the explosion.
“A team of investigators will come together to determine the cause of the failure,” Space Launch Delta 30 said.
The Federal Aviation Office also determined. The agency told CNBC in a statement that no injuries or damage to public property were reported, but reports of possible debris falling to the ground are known.
Firefly’s Alpha missile is on the ground “until the FAA approves the final investigation report or determines that the issues related to the breakdown are not affecting public safety,” the agency added.
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket rests on the launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on September 2, 2021.
Andrew Evers | CNBC
Firefly attempted to reach orbit when the company first launched, which would have been a rare feat for private rocket builders. Initial orbital launch attempts by other private rocket builders – SpaceX, Rocket Lab, Virgin Orbit, and Astra – suffered a multitude of failures, with the three former companies reaching orbit on later attempts.
A statement from Firefly stressed that its alpha test flight had achieved “a number” of mission objectives including: booster ignition, take-off and supersonic speed, and had collected “a significant amount of flight data”.
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