Firefly Explains Alpha Launch Failure

Deconstructed: Alpha Flight 6 launched in April from Vandenberg Space Force Base, and failed when its first-stage booster broke apart milliseconds after stage separation. This created a shockwave that destroyed the engine nozzle extension on the second stage and reducing thrust, seconds before the second stage attained orbital velocity.

Wha’ Happen? The mishap investigation concluded that “plume induced flow separation” caused the failure. The phenomenon occurs when a rocket’s exhaust disrupts airflow around the vehicle in flight. 

In this case, Firefly said the rocket was flying at a higher angle of attack than prior missions, which resulted in the flow separation and created intense heat that broke the first stage apart.

So... "pointy end up" too much?

Fix-it: The company said it would increase the heat shielding on the first stage of the rocket, and fly reduced angles of attack on future missions.