Firefly Aerospace successfully launches Alpha rocket to orbit three satellites for the first time

The aerospace company Firefly Aerospace was able to successfully launch the Alpha rocket, which placed three satellites in orbit.

Here's What We Know

The launch was part of the Alpha Flight 2 mission from the launch pad at U.S. Space Force Base Vandenberg. From the name it is clear that this is the company's second attempt to send satellites into orbit. The first launch in 2021 ended in an explosion of the rocket in the third minute of flight due to failure of one of the engines of the first stage.

The second attempt was a success. Alpha was able to take off, and on the third minute the first stage separated safely. Five minutes later the upper stage reached elliptical orbit and the launcher reached an altitude of 300 km in about an hour after launch.

As a result of the Alpha Flight 2 mission, Firefly Aerospace was able to successfully deploy three satellites: TechEdSat-15, PicoBus and Serenity. The first was created by NASA and is equipped with a special device to optimize data transfer.

The second satellite was developed by Libre Space. It consists of five devices for testing remote sensing technology and demonstrating a pulse-plasma engine system. The Serenity satellite was created by Teachers in Space. It will collect data for scientists and send them back to Earth.

Source: space