Alpha first stage explodes during a ground test in Texas

Firefly Aerospace/Alpha

Firefly's Alpha first stage was lost during a ground test at the Briggs, Texas site on September 29 when a combustion event destroyed the stage. Firefly traced the failure to a process error during integration that left minute hydrocarbon contamination, triggering a catastrophic event in one engine.

• Test date: September 29, 2025 at Firefly's Briggs, Texas facility.
• Root cause: process error during stage-one integration resulted in hydrocarbon contamination.
• The contamination caused a combustion event in one engine during ground test.
• Response: increased fluid-system inspections, optimized first-stage sensors, additional automated aborts; replacement stage sourced from production line.