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Firefly Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:FLY) announced Tuesday it has received clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to resume launches of its Alpha rocket, following a flight mishap earlier this year. The update was provided in a press release statement and disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The FAA approval comes after Firefly and the agency conducted a joint investigation into the Alpha Flight 6 incident that occurred on April 29, 2025. The company also assembled an independent review board that included government agencies, customers, and industry experts. According to the findings, Firefly’s flight safety system functioned as intended throughout the flight, with both rocket stages landing safely in the Pacific Ocean and no risk posed to public safety.
The investigation determined that Alpha Flight 6 launched and ascended normally until stage separation, when the first stage experienced a rupture. This caused a pressure wave that damaged the second stage’s engine nozzle, reducing thrust. The second stage maintained attitude control and reached an altitude of 320 kilometers but fell short of achieving orbital velocity and the target payload deployment orbit by several seconds.
Analysis of flight data and post-flight testing identified excessive heat from plume-induced flow separation as the likely cause of the mishap. The mission flew at a higher angle of attack than previous flights, which intensified heat and reduced structural margins, leading to the booster rupture.
Firefly stated that corrective actions have been implemented, including increasing the thickness of the thermal protection system on the first stage and reducing the angle of attack during key flight phases.
“With FAA approval to return to flight and corrective actions implemented, Firefly is now working to determine the next available launch window for Alpha Flight 7,” the company said.
The information in this article is based on a press release statement and the company’s SEC filing.
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