FAA Bans Firefly Aerospace Launching Alpha Rocket

JAKARTA The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) issued a ban on the launch of Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket. This happened because of the failed launch of the rocket on April 29.

The launch mission, titled Messages in Booster, was supposed to launch a prototype of Lockheed Martin's LM 400 multimission satellite bus to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). However, this launch target did not occur because Alpha had an accident.

Anomalies emerged after stage two was separated and the Lightning engine nozzle was lost due to this accident. As a result, the engine thrust decreased. Despite the accident, the cargo that Firefly Aerospace brought managed to land safely.

"Initial indications show the upper stage of the Alpha reaches a height of 320 km," Firefly said. "After further assessment, the team learned that the upper stage did not reach orbital speed, and the stages and payloads had hit the Pacific Ocean safely in Antarctica's northern safe zone."

The ban on the use of Alpha rockets will take effect temporarily until the FAA has finished analyzing its launch problems. In order for the ban to be lifted, Firefly Aerospace must investigate the failure of the Alpha launch from the Space Force Base in Vandenberg.

"The return of flights is based on the FAA's decision that any system, process, or procedure related to the crash does not affect public safety," the FAA said, quoted via Space on Friday, May 2.

Although later Firefly has completed an investigation and the ban has been lifted, the company needs to seek new approval from the FAA. This approval will change flight licenses which include improved measures from Firefly Aerospace.