Firefly Scrubs Second Launch of Alpha Booster; Flight Rescheduled for Monday
by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor
Firefly scrubbed the second launch of its Alpha booster from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday evening.
Firefly aborted the countdown in the final minute due to a drop in helium pressure in Alpha’s second stage. The company attempted to launch at the beginning of a four-hour window that began at 3 pm PDT.
Firefly recycled the vehicle to attempt a launch later in the window. The company subsequently decided to scrub for the day due to a continuing problem with helium pressure.
Firefly has a launch window on Monday that begins at 3 pm PDT (6 pm EDT/22:00 UTC).
Firefly is hoping the second launch of its Alpha booster is the charm. The launch comes just over a year after an Alpha rocket failed on its maiden flight after a first-stage engine shut down.
Firefly Alpha Launch No. 2 Payloads
| Satellite | Type | Organization(s) | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| TechEdSat-15 (TES-15) | CubeSat | NASA Ames / San Jose State University | Technology demonstration |
| TIS Serenity | CubeSat | Teachers in Space, Inc. | Education |
| PicoBus | PocketQube | Libre Space Foundation | PocketQube deployer |
| FOSSASAT-1B | PocketQube | FOSSA Systems | Technology demonstration |
| GENESIS-L | PocketQube | AMSAT-EA | Amateur radio |
| GENESIS-N | PocketQube | AMSAT-EA | Amateur radio |
| QUBIK-1 | PocketQube | Libre Space Foundation | Technology demonstration |
| QUBIK-2 | PocketQube | Libre Space Foundation | Technology demonstration |
| Firefly capsule | Capsule | Firefly Aerospace | 128 postcards |
Alpha is carrying eight small satellites and a capsule with postcards on a rideshare flight.
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A scrub is better than a RUD.