Firefly Aerospace is advancing the return-to-flight plan for its Alpha rocket, targeting a launch date of February 18th. This move comes approximately five months after a ground test incident last year, where the first stage of a launch vehicle being prepared for flight was damaged during testing.

The company recently completed a full-duration static fire test of the Alpha rocket's four Reaver engines, lasting about 20 seconds, to verify their performance and safety standards. This test was a critical step in the return-to-flight preparations, aimed at ensuring the reliability of the Alpha rocket for future missions.

Firefly Aerospace stated that the resumption of Alpha rocket launches will support commercial and scientific research launch demands, and the company is collaborating with relevant parties to optimize the launch process. If the plan proceeds smoothly, this will mark the Alpha rocket's first flight since the incident, indicating a gradual normalization of the company's operations.