World roster → Firefly Aerospace
Alpha
Alpha is an orbital launch vehicle currently flying operated by Firefly Aerospace of Cedar Park, Texas, 29.5 m tall, 1,030 kg to low Earth orbit, 2 stages.
| Operator | Firefly Aerospace · Cedar Park, Texas |
|---|---|
| Status | Currently flying |
| First flight | 2021 |
| Height | 29.5 m |
| Diameter | 1.8 m |
| Liftoff mass | 54 t |
| Liftoff thrust | 736 kN |
| Stages | 2 |
| Payload to LEO | 1,030 kg |
| Payload to SSO | 630 kg |
| Engines | 4 × Reaver 1 · 1 × Lightning 1 |
| Propellant | RP-1 / liquid oxygen |
| Reuse | Expendable — nothing is recovered |
| Launch sites | SLC-2W, Vandenberg |
Carbon-composite tanks and tap-off cycle engines. A rough early flight record that has been improving.
About Firefly Aerospace
Small-lift operator that also builds the Blue Ghost lunar lander, and is co-developing a medium rocket with Northrop. Founded 2017. Official site.