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Firefly AerospaceFirefly AlphaSpace Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
FLTA004 (Fly the Lightning)
Launched
December 22, 2023 · 17:32 UTC
Summary
FLTA004 (Fly the Lightning) launched on a Firefly Aerospace Firefly Alpha from Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on December 22, 2023 at 17:32 UTC. The mission was a partial failure: Stage 2 2nd burn suffered problems and did not deliver the payload to its precise target orbit. Communication to the spacecraft has been established and mission operations are now underway. The launch window ran from 17:18 to 17:48 UTC. It was Firefly Aerospace's 4th launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 6,579th orbital launch attempt. It was the 4th Firefly Alpha flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Result
- Stage 2 2nd burn suffered problems and did not deliver the payload to its precise target orbit. Communication to the spacecraft has been established and mission operations are now underway.
- Watch
- Alpha FLTA004 Fly The LightningFirefly Aerospace
- Vehicle
- Firefly Alpha · Firefly Aerospace
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Technology · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)for LMT
- Milestone
- 4th Firefly Alpha flight · 2nd this yearFirefly Aerospace's 4th launch2nd this yearhumanity's 6,579th orbital launch attempt211th orbital launch attempt this year
Webcast
Flight preview
Catalogued objects
2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage; none still in orbit
- TANTRUM · NORAD 58616 · re-entered February 10, 2024
Alpha FLTA004 Stage 2 · re-entered January 19, 2024
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
Firefly’s Alpha rocket will launch Lockheed Martin’s new wideband Electronically Steerable Antenna (ESA) technology integrated on a Terran Orbital Nebula satellite bus. Developed within Lockheed Martin Space’s Ignite organization using a proprietary design, the ESA payload will demonstrate faster on-orbit sensor calibration to deliver rapid capabilities to U.S. warfighters.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
96th launch from Space Launch Complex 2W, 2nd this year · 738th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Local pad time at liftoff: Dec 22, 9:32 AM PST, in daylight
99 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
98 days after the previous launch from this pad
Updates
Updated launch status following confirmation of stage 2 2nd burn failure.
Show 9 earlier updates
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/22/2023 · source
Updated T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/22/2023 · source
Livestream has started
LL2 · 12/22/2023 · source
Weather 40% GO.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/22/2023 · source
New T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/22/2023 · source
Confirmed rescheduled for December 22.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/21/2023 · source
Tentatively planned for December 22.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/20/2023 · source
Scrubbed due to weather, next launch attempt TBD.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/20/2023 · source
Updating T-0
Nosu · 12/20/2023 · source
Questions
When did FLTA004 (Fly the Lightning) launch?
FLTA004 (Fly the Lightning) launched on December 22, 2023 at 17:32 UTC. The launch window ran from 17:18 to 17:48 UTC.
Why was FLTA004 (Fly the Lightning) a partial failure?
Stage 2 2nd burn suffered problems and did not deliver the payload to its precise target orbit. Communication to the spacecraft has been established and mission operations are now underway.
Where can I watch FLTA004 (Fly the Lightning)?
Coverage: Alpha FLTA004 Fly The Lightning. Watch the replay
What rocket launched FLTA004 (Fly the Lightning)?
Firefly Alpha, flown by Firefly Aerospace. Firefly Alpha spec sheet
Where did FLTA004 (Fly the Lightning) launch from?
Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA. Liftoff was Dec 22, 9:32 AM PST local time at the pad.
What orbit was FLTA004 (Fly the Lightning) going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a technology mission.
How many satellites did FLTA004 (Fly the Lightning) launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, no longer in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).