The first launch of the Firefly Alpha rocket ended in an explosion
(YouTube Screen Shot)
The first launch of the light vehicle Firefly Alpha ended in failure; the rocket exploded during the first stage operation.
The lost payload included a number of small satellites, as well as a sail to quickly de-orbit the rocket's second stage and a DNA capsule containing 450 plants from around the world.
The Firefly Alpha, a two-stage ultralight launch vehicle, is being developed by the company Firefly Aerospace.
The rocket is powered by Reaver 1 kerosene-oxygen liquid propellant rocket engines fueled by kerosene-liquid oxygen fuel vapor and uses carbon composites in its design.
The carrier is capable of delivering up to one metric ton of payload to low Earth orbit or 630 kilograms of payload to sun-synchronous orbit, thereby meeting the needs of the growing small satellite market.
At the same time, the company offers the lowest cost for the delivery of a kilogram of cargo in its class of missiles: $ 15 million.
The FAA's approval to fly the Firefly Alpha was granted in May this year.
The first test launch of the rocket under the DREAM (Dedicated Research and Education Accelerator Mission) program was scheduled for September 3, 2021.
The first launch attempt was interrupted in the last seconds of the countdown due to technical reasons, but the timer was restarted for the second attempt.
Approximately two and a half minutes after the launch, after passing the point of maximum aerodynamic drag and before the separation of the first stage, the rocket exploded.
The lost payload included PocketCube and Cubesat satellites, as well as the Spinnaker-3 sail, which was supposed to unfold and accelerate the entry into the atmosphere of the second stage of the rocket.
The mission also included a prototype genetic capsule from LifeShip, which contained the DNA of 450 plants from around the world, enclosed in synthetic amber.
Source:
- Space News: https://spacenews.com/firefly-alpha-explodes-during-first-launch/
- Everyday Astronaut: