The promising debut launch of Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket last December didn’t go entirely as planned. A software issue during the flight prevented the rocket’s upper stage from completing its second burn, leaving the payload stranded in a lower-than-intended orbit. Though disappointing, Firefly’s transparent investigation into the anomaly provides an opportunity for the young launch company to improve its systems and come back stronger on the next mission.
According to a statement from Firefly on February 20th, the root cause was traced to an error in the guidance, navigation and control (GNC) software algorithm for Alpha’s upper stage. Specifically, the flaw prevented the proper commands from being sent to the Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters ahead of the planned second burn. The RCS thrusters are critical for orienting the stage and settling the propellant tanks before engine ignition. So without those orienting pulses, the relight could not happen.
Firefly deserves credit for thoroughly investigating the mishap with its own team as well as an independent review board. Getting to the bottom of launch failures is vital for identifying corrective actions, ensuring future mission success, and maintaining the confidence of customers and the industry. Though the company understandably did not provide details about the coding mistake, it is implementing changes to detect similar issues pre-launch going forward.
Despite the glitch, Alpha’s systems otherwise worked well on the inaugural “Fly the Lightning” demo mission last December. The two-stage rocket successfully lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base and deployed its dummy payload during first stage flight. The error only affected the planned second burn of the upper stage. So Firefly has plenty of positives to build on for getting back to flight.
The aborted burn did, however, leave the real payload – a technology demonstration satellite for Lockheed Martin – stranded in a low orbit with a very brief lifetime. But Lockheed impressively accelerated testing on the spacecraft and achieved most of its mission objectives within a few weeks before orbital decay. So useful data was still gained despite the altered mission plan.
Firefly’s leadership remains confident that Alpha will resume launches in the coming months. The company expects to complete its four-launch manifest this year as originally scheduled. competition in the small launch vehicle sector is fierce, so minimizing downtime is key. But taking the time to truly identify and correct issues with Alpha will bolster Firefly’s prospects in the long run.
The Alpha mishap highlights the learning curve for new launch providers, even those with extensive heritage. Debut flights frequently encounter minor issues. What matters is applying lessons learned to make a better rocket. Firefly’s apparent transparency and diligence investigating the anomaly bodes well for Alpha’s future. With more successful flights, Firefly can establish itself as a dependable provider of dedicated small satellite launch.
