Firefly Alpha | Stairway to Seven launch

Firefly AerospaceLaunch SuccessfulTest Flight

Stairway to Seven

Name: Firefly Alpha | Stairway to Seven
Start: 2026-03-12T00:50:00Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Firefly Alpha

Launched Thu, Mar 12 · 12:50 AM UTC2026-03-12 00:50 UTCSpace Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Reached orbit

Follow Firefly Aerospace in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Low Earth Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+8:02.

Worldwide

50th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

Firefly Aerospace

1st

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 2W

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

316 d 11 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: Alpha Flight 7 "Stairway To Seven"

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 12:50 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown1

T−0:0212:49 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (1 step)

T−0:0212:49 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent7

T+0:0012:50 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+0:5512:50 AMVehicle is supersonic
T+1:0612:51 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:3212:52 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:3512:52 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:3812:52 AMStart of the second engine
T+3:0312:53 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Second Stage and Payload1

T+8:0212:58 AMCut-off of the second engine

Mission

Firefly Alpha's Flight 7 is a test flight and return-To-Flight for the launch vehicle after its April 2025 launch failure. It will test and validate key systems ahead of Firefly’s Block II configuration upgrade on Flight 8 that’s designed to enhance reliability and manufacturability across the vehicle.

Flight 7 is the last flown in Alpha’s current configuration and will test multiple Block II subsystems, including the in-house avionics and thermal improvements, to gain flight heritage and validate lessons learned ahead of the full configuration upgrade on Flight 8.

This launch also delivered a demonstrator payload for Lockheed Martin.

Launch Provider

Firefly Aerospace

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2014 · CEO Peter Schumacher

Firefly Aerospace is an American private aerospace firm based in Austin, Texas, that develops small and medium-sized launch vehicles for commercial launches to orbit.

Launches

Successful

57%

Upcoming

scheduled

All Firefly Aerospace launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Mar 12 · 2:13 AM
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 12 · 12:50 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 12 · 12:31 AM
Official Webcast by Firefly Aerospace has started
Launch Library 2
Mar 11 · 6:47 PM
Rescheduled for March 11 PDT.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 10 · 11:59 PM
Scrubbed due to off-nominal readings during fluids loading.
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Mar 10 · 8:55 PM
Confirmed rescheduled for today.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 10 · 7:35 PM
Reverted to NET March TBD.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 9 · 10:02 PM
Scrubbed for the day due to sensor issue.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 6 · 9:37 PM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 5 · 3:10 PM
NET March 10 UTC, to be confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 2 · 1:51 AM
Scrubbed for the day due to upper level winds.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 2 · 12:35 AM
New T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 2 · 12:11 AM
Holding for upper level winds.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 28 · 5:49 PM
Delayed to March 1 PST due to upper level winds.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 27 · 10:55 PM
Tweaked launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 26 · 3:44 PM
Delayed to NET February 28 PST due to launch site weather.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 18 · 3:05 PM
Updated launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 17 · 9:29 PM
Delayed to NET February 27 PST.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 13 · 7:04 PM
Delayed to NET February 20 PST per new marine navigation warnings.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 9 · 2:04 PM
GO for launch, NET February 18 PST.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 4 · 6:42 PM
NET February 14 UTC, to be confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Nov 12 · 9:23 PM
Added launch.
Cosmic_Penguin

Firefly Alpha

Vehicle history

Height

29.6m

Diameter

1.8m

To low Earth orbit

1,000kg

Liftoff thrust

736kN

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

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See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

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Firefly AerospaceLaunch SuccessfulTest Flight

Stairway to Seven

Firefly Alpha

Launched Thu, Mar 12 · 12:50 AM UTC2026-03-12 00:50 UTCSpace Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Reached orbit

Follow Firefly Aerospace in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Low Earth Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+8:02.

Worldwide

50th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

Firefly Aerospace

1st

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 2W

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

316 d 11 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: Alpha Flight 7 "Stairway To Seven"

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 12:50 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown1

T−0:0212:49 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (1 step)

T−0:0212:49 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent7

T+0:0012:50 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+0:5512:50 AMVehicle is supersonic
T+1:0612:51 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:3212:52 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:3512:52 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:3812:52 AMStart of the second engine
T+3:0312:53 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Second Stage and Payload1

T+8:0212:58 AMCut-off of the second engine

Mission

This launch also delivered a demonstrator payload for Lockheed Martin.

Launch Provider

Firefly Aerospace

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2014 · CEO Peter Schumacher

Firefly Aerospace is an American private aerospace firm based in Austin, Texas, that develops small and medium-sized launch vehicles for commercial launches to orbit.

Launches

Successful

57%

Upcoming

scheduled

All Firefly Aerospace launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Mar 12 · 2:13 AM
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 12 · 12:50 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 12 · 12:31 AM
Official Webcast by Firefly Aerospace has started
Launch Library 2
Mar 11 · 6:47 PM
Rescheduled for March 11 PDT.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 10 · 11:59 PM
Scrubbed due to off-nominal readings during fluids loading.
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Mar 10 · 8:55 PM
Confirmed rescheduled for today.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 10 · 7:35 PM
Reverted to NET March TBD.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 9 · 10:02 PM
Scrubbed for the day due to sensor issue.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 6 · 9:37 PM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 5 · 3:10 PM
NET March 10 UTC, to be confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 2 · 1:51 AM
Scrubbed for the day due to upper level winds.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 2 · 12:35 AM
New T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 2 · 12:11 AM
Holding for upper level winds.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 28 · 5:49 PM
Delayed to March 1 PST due to upper level winds.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 27 · 10:55 PM
Tweaked launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 26 · 3:44 PM
Delayed to NET February 28 PST due to launch site weather.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 18 · 3:05 PM
Updated launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 17 · 9:29 PM
Delayed to NET February 27 PST.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 13 · 7:04 PM
Delayed to NET February 20 PST per new marine navigation warnings.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 9 · 2:04 PM
GO for launch, NET February 18 PST.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 4 · 6:42 PM
NET February 14 UTC, to be confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Nov 12 · 9:23 PM
Added launch.
Cosmic_Penguin

Firefly Alpha

Vehicle history

Height

29.6m

Diameter

1.8m

To low Earth orbit

1,000kg

Liftoff thrust

736kN

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Vandenberg SFB schedule

Oct30Fri

Starlink Group 15-18SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USALow Earth OrbitGo for launch4:02 AM UTC Nov2Mon

USSF-432SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USALow Earth OrbitGo for launch1:56 AM UTC

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

Stairway to Seven

Replay

The Flight Plan

Countdown1

Ascent7

Second Stage and Payload1

Mission

Firefly Aerospace

Updates

Firefly Alpha

Never Miss a Launch.

Stairway to Seven

Replay

The Flight Plan

Countdown1

Ascent7

Second Stage and Payload1

Mission

Firefly Aerospace

Updates

Firefly Alpha

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Vandenberg SFB