Firefly Successfully Launches Rocket After September Explosion

Firefly Aerospace Inc. launched its Alpha rocket to orbit on Wednesday, a major milestone roughly five months after one of the Texas-based firm’s vehicles exploded during a test.

The rocket’s seventh mission lifted off at 5:50 p.m. from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It then completed an orbital insertion and delivered a demonstrator payload for Lockheed Martin Corp., the company said in a statement.