Author Topic: FAILURE: Firefly Alpha 1st flight - Vandenberg SLC-2W - 3 Sep 2021 (01:59 UTC) (Read 88213 times)

JEF_300 · « **Reply #120 on:** 09/03/2021 02:34 am »

Quote from: Wolfram66 on 09/03/2021 02:29 am

They may need to get that hydrophobic coating SpaceX applies to falcon

In some shots it seemed like they had it on the company name already. Just need to put it on the rest of the vehicle.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #121 on:** 09/03/2021 02:35 am »

Better view of anomaly

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1433618654889865216

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Video: Firefly Alpha's in-flight anomaly. Stay tuned to the NSF youtube channel for the full video. @NASASpaceflight

Rocketdog2116 · « **Reply #122 on:** 09/03/2021 02:37 am »

Whelp the pointy and flamey ends ended up in the wrong directions.

Kryten · « **Reply #123 on:** 09/03/2021 02:41 am »

The AFTS seems to be set very leniently if it can pull maneuvers like that first.

Spaceman_From_Italy · « **Reply #124 on:** 09/03/2021 02:44 am »

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 09/03/2021 02:35 am

Better view of anomaly

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1433618654889865216

Quote
Video: Firefly Alpha's in-flight anomaly. Stay tuned to the NSF youtube channel for the full video. @NASASpaceflight

Looks like an engine failure to my untrained eye, one of the engines exploded and destabilized the rocket. Hopefully an easy fix. Wishing Firefly the best of luck for their next attempt.

exilon · « **Reply #125 on:** 09/03/2021 02:46 am »

Looks like it lost directional control right after supersonic call out. TVC failure? TVC being overpowered by aerodynamic forces?

Damon Hill · « **Reply #126 on:** 09/03/2021 02:46 am »

Good high resolution photography at altitude. Looked for a moment like it was regaining control. Nice first try. Spaceflight development continues to be exciting and entertaining. Now to wait for the post-mortem.

RocketLover0119 · « **Reply #127 on:** 09/03/2021 02:49 am »

Jacks vid to GIF, for viewing pleasure.

Johnnyhinbos · « **Reply #128 on:** 09/03/2021 02:58 am »

Well, that launch went sideways. Wait…

Fizrock · « **Reply #129 on:** 09/03/2021 03:20 am »

It looks like there were 2, simultaneous explosions: one on each stage. That would be consistent with the activation of the FTS rather than a structural failure.

AirmanPika · « **Reply #130 on:** 09/03/2021 03:36 am »

I noticed the plume looked off. Didn't realize till I looked at my pics that it had begun spinning before...

AirmanPika · « **Reply #131 on:** 09/03/2021 03:42 am »

In all honesty they've been working hard and props to them for the progress they made. Likely got a lot of good info from this attempt. Been watching them do all that work at SLC2 to get to today. Space is hard but they'll learn.

kevinof · « **Reply #132 on:** 09/03/2021 04:41 am »

Quote from: Kryten on 09/03/2021 02:41 am

The AFTS seems to be set very leniently if it can pull maneuvers like that first.

My thoughts also. Seemed to really give it a chance to recover before pulling the pin. Are we sure it’s AFTS and not a manual trigger?

AirmanPika · « **Reply #133 on:** 09/03/2021 05:00 am »

Quote from: kevinof on 09/03/2021 04:41 am

Quote from: Kryten on 09/03/2021 02:41 am
The AFTS seems to be set very leniently if it can pull maneuvers like that first.
My thoughts also. Seemed to really give it a chance to recover before pulling the pin. Are we sure it’s AFTS and not a manual trigger?

Granted I don't know exactly what the criteria are...but the rocket was still generally WHERE it was supposed to be (thanks to momentum) which may explain the delay. It looked like it triggered when it seemed to stabilize into a down trajectory and move accordingly.

RotoSequence · « **Reply #134 on:** 09/03/2021 05:47 am »

Quote from: kevinof on 09/03/2021 04:41 am

Quote from: Kryten on 09/03/2021 02:41 am
The AFTS seems to be set very leniently if it can pull maneuvers like that first.
My thoughts also. Seemed to really give it a chance to recover before pulling the pin. Are we sure it’s AFTS and not a manual trigger?

https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2763829/firefly-alpha-terminated-mid-flight/

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Space Launch Delta 30 terminated the Firefly Aerospace Inc., Alpha rocket over the Pacific Ocean at 7:01 p.m. Pacific Time after a successful lift off at 6:59 p.m. Pacific Time from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg SFB Sept. 2.

They don't say it outright, but it looks like a Range Safety Officer made the call.

wxmeddler · « **Reply #135 on:** 09/03/2021 05:53 am »

Debris fallout animation I pulled / created from my radar software. Classic debris scattering pattern with SW winds.
https://twitter.com/wxmeddler/status/1433633857249726470?s=20

wxmeddler · « **Reply #136 on:** 09/03/2021 06:21 am »

Space Force Vandenberg making it clear that they sent the FTS signal.
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2763829/firefly-alpha-terminated-mid-flight/

Pueo · « **Reply #137 on:** 09/03/2021 06:54 am »

Another view of the launch, in this view it's apparent a heavy chunk of the rocket survived the FTS and traveled an impressive ballistic arc.

Edit: And another view through someone's telescope or binocs. There's a rather pretty effect from what I think was ice shards sparkling in the sun after being dislodged by the airstream as the rocket began to lose attitude control.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #138 on:** 09/03/2021 07:09 am »

https://twitter.com/laur_ly/status/1433679760169734149

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I have to say it’s been a pretty epic first 2 1/2 weeks on the job. While we didn’t make it the whole way, there are still so many major milestones we hit, and the learnings are indispensable. So proud to be a part of this team. #goFirefly

twitter.com/firefly_space/status/1433664059975643161

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Firefly Aerospace First Test Flight - Official Statement

September 2, 2021 - Today we conducted the first-ever test flight of our Alpha rocket. Prior to the anomaly, we had a nominal countdown and lift off at 6:59 PM local time. While we did not meet all of our mission objectives, we did achieve a number of them: successful first stage ignition, liftoff of the pad, progression to supersonic speed, and we obtained a substantial amount of flight data.

More than two minutes into the flight, Alpha experienced an anomaly resulting in an early end of the mission. At Firefly, our goal is to always look out for the safety of our employees, partners, and community. We are happy to report that there were no injuries associated with the anomaly.

While it's too early to draw conclusions as to the root cause, we will be diligent in our investigation, in partnership with the FAA and Vandenberg Space Force Base. We will utilize the data we obtained from the test flight and apply it to future missions. Our engineers are currently combing through thousands of lines of ground and flight system telemetry in order to better understand what occurred.

We want to thank the teams at Vandenberg Space Force Base and Space Launch Delta 30 for their partnership in this launch and the FAA for their continued support. We will be providing further updates as more information becomes available.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #139 on:** 09/03/2021 07:23 am »

Many thanks to Firefly for providing a livestream of their first launch.

Here's a sequence a photos show the course taken after the loss of vehicle control.