An Unmanned Rocket Designed To Carry Satellites Is Destroyed Shortly After Liftoff

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A rocket launched by Firefly Aerospace explodes minutes after lifting off from the central California coast on Thursday. The Alpha rocket was «terminated over the Pacific Ocean shortly after its liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base, according to a base statement.

Len Wood/For The Santa Maria Times via AP

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Len Wood/For The Santa Maria Times via AP

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Firefly said an «anomaly occurred during the first-stage ascent that «resulted in the loss of the vehicle about two minutes, 30 seconds into the flight. Vandenberg said a team of investigators will try to determine what caused the failure.

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A rocket launched by Firefly Aerospace is seen exploding minutes after lifting off.

Len Wood/AP

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Len Wood/AP

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Austin, Texas-based Firefly is developing various launch and space vehicles, including a lunar lander. Its Alpha rocket was designed to target the growing market for launching small satellites into Earth orbit.

Standing 95 feet (26 meters) high, the two-stage Alpha is designed to carry up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms) of payload into low orbit. The company wants to be capable of launching Alphas twice a month. Launches would have a starting price of $15 million, according to Firefly.

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The rocket is seen lifting off from the central California coast on Thursday.

Matt Hartman/AP

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Matt Hartman/AP

The rocket is seen lifting off from the central California coast on Thursday.

Matt Hartman/AP

Firefly will have to catch up with two Long Beach, California-based companies that are ahead in the small satellite launch sector.

Rocket Lab has put 105 satellites into orbit with multiple launches from a site in New Zealand and is developing another launch complex in the U.S.

Virgin Orbit has put 17 satellites into space with two successful flights of its air-launched LauncherOne rocket, which is released from beneath the wing of a modified Boeing 747.