Firefly Alpha | Stairway to Seven
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.
Firefly Alpha (Firefly α) is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle developed by the American aerospace company Firefly Aerospace to cover the commercial small satellite launch market. Alpha is intended to provide launch options for both full vehicle and ride share customers.
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Mission Profile
Stairway to Seven was a Firefly Alpha mission operated by Firefly Aerospace that lifted off from Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on March 12, 2026. The flight carried its payload on a test flight mission to Low Earth Orbit. The launch was a success.