Software glitch blamed for Alpha launch mishap
Posted: Sat, Feb 24, 2024, 9:41 AM ET (1441 GMT)
A software glitch caused a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket to strand its payload in a low orbit on a December launch. The company said Tuesday that its investigation concluded that the Alpha's second stage failed to properly complete a second burn on a Dec. 22 launch because of an error in the vehicle's guidance, navigation and control software. That left the payload, a Lockheed Martin technology demonstration satellite, in an orbit with a perigee of only about 215 kilometers. The spacecraft was able to complete most of its planned mission before reentering earlier this month. Firefly said it expects to resume Alpha launches in the "coming months" but did not offer a more specific timeframe.
A software glitch caused a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket to strand its payload in a low orbit on a December launch. The company said Tuesday that its investigation concluded that the Alpha's second stage failed to properly complete a second burn on a Dec. 22 launch because of an error in the vehicle's guidance, navigation and control software. That left the payload, a Lockheed Martin technology demonstration satellite, in an orbit with a perigee of only about 215 kilometers. The spacecraft was able to complete most of its planned mission before reentering earlier this month. Firefly said it expects to resume Alpha launches in the "coming months" but did not offer a more specific timeframe.
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