Ready for Launch
Firefly’s Alpha rocket is equipped to launch more than 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit for commercial, civil, and national security missions. The flight-proven vehicle is designed to support regular, rapid, and reliable launches with direct, on-demand deliveries when and where customers need to fly. Alpha can be launched domestically or internationally through Firefly’s launch facilities at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and new launch capabilities coming soon at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia as early as 2026 and at the Esrange Space Center in Sweden as early as 2027.
Performance
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PAYLOAD LEO
1,030 KG
LEO, 300 km
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Payload SSO
630 KG
SSO, 500 km
Dimensions
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OVERALL LENGTH
29.48 m
96.7 ft
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FAIRING HEIGHT
5 m
16.4 ft
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FAIRING DIAMETER
2.2 m
7.2 ft
Propulsion
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PROPELLANT
LOX / RP–1
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PROPELLANT FEED
Turbopump
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COMBUSTION
Tap-off cycle
Stage 1
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Engine
4x Reaver
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THRUST (VAC)
801 kN
180,072 lbf
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ISP (VAC)
295.6 sec
Stage 2
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ENGINE
1x Lightning
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THRUST (VAC)
70.1 kN
15,759 lbf
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ISP (VAC)
322 sec
Repeatable Reliability for Your Mission
Manufactured and tested at Firefly’s Texas Rocket Ranch, Alpha is built with patented tap-off cycle engines, which reduces complexity with fewer parts and improves reliability compared to staged combustion or gas generator cycles. Firefly also utilizes advanced carbon fiber composites for Alpha’s entire airframe and linerless cryogenic propellant tanks, enabling a strong, lightweight vehicle at value prices.
Carbon Composite Structures
Lifting heavier payloads at a lower cost with high-strength, lightweight carbon fiber composites.
Patented Propulsion Technologies
Improving reliability with simple, high-performance tap-off cycle engines.
"Test Like You Fly" Verification
Advancing mission assurance with robust acceptance testing for each critical component, engine, and vehicle stage.
Vertically Integrated Components
Scaling efficiencies and quality assurance using common components across all Firefly vehicle lines.
Carbon Composite Structures
Lifting heavier payloads at a lower cost with high-strength, lightweight carbon fiber composites.
Patented Propulsion Technologies
Improving reliability with simple, high-performance tap-off cycle engines.
"Test Like You Fly" Verification
Advancing mission assurance with robust acceptance testing for each critical component, engine, and vehicle stage.
Vertically Integrated Components
Scaling efficiencies and quality assurance using common components across all Firefly vehicle lines.
Responsive Launch Services
As the first and only rocket to launch with just 24-hour notice, Alpha is well-equipped to to launch and deploy critical assets to respond to dynamic changes in space and stay ahead of emerging threats. Alpha can also be paired with Firefly’s Elytra orbital vehicles to support responsive in-space missions, such as maneuverability, delivery, and space domain awareness across cislunar space.
Rapid Production & Testing
Automated in-house manufacturing and rapid, iterative testing to support responsive space missions.
Onsite Payload Processing
Dedicated facility with clean room to rapidly fuel, checkout, and integrate hypergolic spacecraft and SmallSats.
Deployable Launch Systems
Mobile infrastructure equipped to launch Alpha from any location with as little as seven-day notice.
On-Demand Launch
Proven ability to encapsulate, mate, launch, and deploy payloads with just 24-hour notice.
Rapid Production & Testing
Automated in-house manufacturing and rapid, iterative testing to support responsive space missions.
Onsite Payload Processing
Dedicated facility with clean room to rapidly fuel, checkout, and integrate hypergolic spacecraft and SmallSats.
Deployable Launch Systems
Mobile infrastructure equipped to launch Alpha from any location with as little as seven-day notice.
On-Demand Launch
Proven ability to encapsulate, mate, launch, and deploy payloads with just 24-hour notice.
Launch on Alpha
Firefly is ramping up Alpha production and ready to launch your next mission. Alpha supports dedicated launches and rideshare missions with competitive pricing to customers’ preferred orbits. Get in touch to learn more.
Alpha Launch Feature
Alpha FLTA005 successfully deployed 8 CubeSats for NASA and completed a stage 2 relight and orbital plane change.
