Not Good – Lockheed Space Launch GO BOOM!

Lockheed Martin’s ambitious satellite test ended in failure after Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket suffered a major malfunction, sending the LM 400 demonstrator plunging into the Pacific Ocean.

At a Glance

Firefly Alpha rocket failed during Lockheed Martin’s sixth launch attempt

A detached upper-stage engine nozzle prevented orbital insertion

The rocket and satellite reentered over the Pacific Ocean north of Antarctica

Mission was first under Lockheed-Firefly’s 25-launch partnership through 2029

FAA, Firefly, and Lockheed have launched a full investigation

Catastrophic Failure Mid-Flight

Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket experienced a critical anomaly during a high-profile launch on April 29, leading to the loss of Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 satellite. As reported by Reuters, the rocket successfully lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, but encountered failure shortly after stage separation.

According to Ars Technica, a detachment of the Lightning upper-stage engine nozzle caused a dramatic reduction in thrust, making it impossible for the rocket to reach orbital velocity. The spacecraft reached an altitude of 320 kilometers but reentered Earth’s atmosphere and impacted the Pacific Ocean in a controlled zone north of Antarctica.

Launch footage captured a cloud of vapor and debris emerging post-stage separation, confirming the in-flight anomaly. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is assisting Firefly and Lockheed in investigating the cause of the failure.

Watch Spaceflight Now’s full video of the launch at “Firefly Alpha launch with Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 satellite”.

Fallout for Lockheed and Firefly

The failed mission was the first under a long-term launch agreement between Lockheed Martin and Firefly, which plans up to 25 Alpha missions through 2029. The LM 400 was a self-funded experimental satellite designed to test next-generation SmartSat software and assess systems for future defense applications.

According to SpaceNews, Lockheed intended the mission to “get the full lifetime experience of the spacecraft on a relatively accelerated timeline.” In a post-launch statement, the company noted, “Navigating risk and going fast are part of these self-funded demonstrations,” suggesting that lessons learned will guide future missions.

Firefly, which emerged from bankruptcy in 2017 and has undergone leadership changes as recently as 2024, had hoped this mission would strengthen its market standing. Despite the failure, the company has seen recent successes, including a collaborative Moon landing with Northrop Grumman earlier this year.

Industry Implications

This is the Alpha rocket’s fourth failure in six launches since its debut in 2021, according to The Washington Times. The vehicle is designed for mid-tier payloads—larger than Rocket Lab’s Electron can manage, but smaller than SpaceX’s Falcon 9 standard loads—making it a niche player in the evolving space launch market.
While the satellite loss is a setback, industry analysts point to the volatile nature of spaceflight and the value of data gathered even from unsuccessful missions. Both companies emphasized that the goal now is to investigate, correct, and relaunch.

The FAA, Lockheed Martin, Firefly Aerospace, and U.S. Space Force have all initiated a joint investigation to determine the root cause of the anomaly and assess the viability of future Alpha flights.