Alpha's first flight fails after one of its four first-stage engines shuts down 15 seconds after liftoff

Firefly Aerospace/Alpha

Firefly's first Alpha rocket lost control and exploded about 2.5 minutes after launching from Vandenberg on September 2, 2021 after one of four first-stage Reaver engines shut down unexpectedly 15 seconds after liftoff. The single-engine shutdown prevented thrust-vector control in transonic flight, causing tumble.

• First Alpha orbital test flight from Vandenberg on 2 September 2021; one of four Reaver engines shut down ~15 seconds post-liftoff.
• Loss of one engine eliminated sufficient three-engine thrust-vector control at transonic speeds; vehicle tumbled out of control; Range terminated via Flight Termination System.
• Proximate cause: premature engine shutdown triggered by electrical anomaly; vehicle lost control as it reached supersonic speed ~2.5 minutes into flight.