Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket was unable to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, and follow a planned arc over the Pacific Ocean toward space."The vehicle went into auto abort after ignition. This is designed into the system to ensure safety," the company said in a Twitter post. "The team scrubbed tonight's launch attempt and is reviewing data to determine our next launch window.
The rocket's payload included multiple small satellites designed for a variety of technology experiments and demonstrations as well as educational purposes. The mission, dubbed "To The Black," was the company's second demonstration flight of its entry into the market for small satellite launchers.One of the four first-stage engines shut down prematurely but the rocket continued upward on three engines into the supersonic realm where it tumbled out of control.
Firefly Aerospace, based in Cedar Park, Texas, is also planning a larger rocket, a vehicle for in-space operations and a lander for carrying NASA and commercial payloads to the surface of the moon.