Firefly's Alpha rocket lifted off for the 7th time from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 11, 2026. [Full Story](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/firefly-aerospaces-alpha-rocket-reaches-orbit-on-1st-mission-since-explosive-accidents-last-year-video) The "Stairway to Seven" mission didnt carry any operational payloads. Rather, it will serve "as a test flight, with the primary goal to achieve nominal first and second stage performance," Firefly Aerospace wrote in a mission description. The 6th flight of the rocket in April 2025 failed to deliver its payload to its target deployment orbit. Credit: Firefly Aerospace