Firefly Aerospace Rocket Explodes During Testing in Texas

Briggs, Texas — A rocket exploded during ground testing on Monday at Firefly Aerospace‘s facility located north of Austin. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported as the company continued assessing damage to the test stand.

According to Firefly, the first stage of its Alpha Flight 7 rocket experienced a malfunction that led to a rapid unscheduled disassembly during the test. The booster was undergoing preparations for a planned launch later this year from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Videos of the explosion surfaced on social media, capturing two powerful blasts followed by a thick plume of black smoke rising from the facility, aptly named Rocket Ranch.

This incident marks another setback for the Alpha rocket, which faced a failure in its last launch attempt in late April and was subsequently grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Firefly’s team received FAA clearance in late August to resume Alpha launches.

The explosion occurred less than two months after Firefly’s initial public offering (IPO) of stock. Since the IPO, shares have struggled to maintain their value, closing down nearly 3% on Monday and continuing to decline in after-hours trading following the explosion. Currently, Firefly’s stock is approximately 18% down from its IPO price of $45 per share.

Brandon Lingle, a technology reporter with Express-News, can be reached for comments and updates concerning the aerospace industry’s developments.