Alpha • ‘Message in a Booster’

A Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket launched Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 satellite bus with the goal of sending it into low Earth orbit. The sixth launch of an Alpha rocket, designated FLTA006, marked the first flight within a multi-launch agreement between Firefly Aerospace and Lockheed Martin, which may include up to 25 missions within a five-year timeframe. An anomaly during stage separation caused the loss of the Lightning engine nozzle on the second stage and seems to have prevented the satellite from reaching its intended orbit. Delayed from March 15/16 due to range availability. Delayed from NET March and April 27. Launch scrubbed April 28.