10.02.2026

Mission Summary

Alpha Flight 7 is the last flown in the rocket’s current configuration and serves as a test flight with the primary goal to achieve nominal first and second stage performance.

Flight 7 will test and validate key systems ahead of Firefly’s Block II configuration upgrade on Flight 8 that’s designed to enhance reliability and manufacturability across the vehicle. The Block II configuration includes a 7-foot increase to Alpha’s length, consolidated batteries and avionics built in house, an enhanced thermal protection system, and stronger carbon composite structures built with automated machinery.

The subsystems tested on Flight 7, including the in-house avionics and thermal improvements, will allow Firefly to gain flight heritage and validate lessons learned ahead of the full configuration upgrade.

Firefly confirmed the team successfully completed a full duration 20-second static fire on February 6 at our launch pad in Vandenberg. The team is now preparing for launch no earlier than February 18.

Quelle: Firefly

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Update: 28.02.2026

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Firefly Aerospace Alpha Rocket Ready for Return to Flight at Vandenberg

Hoping a new year brings better outcomes, the Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket will return to flight at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Saturday following a couple of failures in 2025.

The Texas company’s small rocket is expected to lift off from Space Launch Complex-2 between 4:50 p.m. and 6:50 p.m. for what has been dubbed the Stairway to Seven mission. 

The rocket’s liftoff has been thwarted by recent rainstorms, which delayed the departure by more than a week, as well as upper-level winds that exceeded guidelines for the launch. 

Alpha’s launch is labeled a test operation as Firefly looks to validate key systems ahead of the firm’s next-generation rocket featuring various upgrades.

Saturday’s launch will be the last flown in the rocket’s current configuration and serves as a test flight “with the primary goal to achieve nominal first- and second-stage performance,” according to an update released by Firefly.

The subsystems tested on Flight 7, including the avionics and thermal improvements, will allow Firefly to gain flight heritage and validate lessons learned ahead of the full configuration upgrade.

The test demonstration mission follows the failure of the sixth Alpha launch on April 29 at Vandenberg.

The vehicle was three seconds short of achieving orbital velocity and five seconds short of the target payload deployment orbit, according to Firefly’s update on the review released in late August.

Using ground-based video, onboard telemetry, post-flight testing and more, Firefly pinpointed the probable cause as excessive heat from plume-induced flow separation.

“Alpha Flight 6 flew a higher angle of attack than prior missions,” Firefly said. “Plume-induced flow separation intensified heat on the leeward side reducing structural margins, causing the booster to rupture from stage separation induced loads.

“Fortunately, the corrective actions are straight forward: increase thermal protection system thickness on Stage 1 and reduce angle of attack during key phases of the flight.”

Quelle: Noozhawk