Firefly Aerospace is pitch up for another go at launch its Alpha Eruca sativa , hoping that the small - heave launch vehicle pee-pee it to orbit this prison term after afiery first attempt last year .
Update 5:30 p.m. ET : FireflyscrubbedMonday ’s launching attempt due to theviolation of twist constraints . The next launching attack is scheduled forSeptember 19 or 20 .
🚀 Launch Update : The Firefly team working@SLDelta30made the decision to scrub today ’s launch due to infringement of wind restraint . Firefly has secure Sept. 19th and 20th on the range for the next launch attempts . Alpha stands quick to launch . appease tune up for more info .
The Alpha rocket exploded shortly after liftoff in 2021.Photo: Len Wood (AP)
— Firefly Aerospace ( @Firefly_Space)September 12 , 2022
Original office take after .
The Texas - based company is aim for an orbital launch attempt on Monday at 6 p.m. ET , and the test escape will be streamed live . you may tune in to look on the liftoff throughFirefly ’s websiteor via the provender below .
The 95 - foot - tall ( 29 - metre ) rocket is set to launch from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California . Firefly designed Alpha to furnish low - cost rides for lowly satellites . As part of today ’s mission , dub “ To the Black , ” Alpha will be carrying two small cubesats and six picosatellites . furnish by Teachers in Space , the Serenity cubesat will cumulate flight data for educational function , while TES-15 , a collaboration between NASA and San Jose State University , will test an “ exo - brake ” that can increase puff in monastic order to de - orbit a orbiter . Meanwhile , Libre Space Foundation ’s PicoBus will deploy six picosatellites to test out communicating and remote smell technology .
The caller wants to be able to establish two Alpha Eruca sativa every calendar month , with the single - use rocket plan to acquit 2,580 pound ( 1,170 kg ) of consignment to low Earth eye socket and 1,640 Ezra Loomis Pound ( 745 kg ) to Sun - synchronous orbit .
But first , Alpha needs to ace its examination flight . The companionship ’s first attempt at establish the skyrocket , on September 2 , 2021 , did n’t exactly go as planned . One of Alpha ’s four first - stage Reaver enginesshut downunexpectedly about 15 seconds in , activate the flight termination system , and the rocket exploded in a massive bolide above the Pacific Ocean . A year after , Alpha is ( hopefully ) quick to fly again .
Alpha ’s second tryout flying was supposed to chance Sunday , but the Eruca vesicaria sativa run into a piece of hassle , and the squad scrub up the launch endeavour due to adrop in He pressure . But , fingers crossed , the company can finally watch Alpha flee with no volatile mishaps this time around . If all go well , Firefly hopes to being unconstipated Alpha launch by the remnant of the yr .
More : Northrop Grumman Partners With Firefly to Replace Russian Rocket Engines
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