Firefly Alpha Mission 'VICTUS NOX' Successfully Launches from Vandenberg
Team Vandenberg successfully launched a space vehicle for the United States Space Force into low Earth orbit aboard Firefly's Alpha vehicle from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-2, Sept. 14, 2023, at 7:28 p.m. PDT. In a major advancement of Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) capabilities, Space Systems Command (SSC) and Firefly Aerospace successfully encapsulated a Millennium Space Systems-built space vehicle, mated it to Firefly’s Alpha launch vehicle, and all final preparations were completed to launch in 24 hours. The mission, known as VICTUS NOX, successfully lifted off at the first available launch window, 27 hours after receipt of launch orders, setting a new record for responsive space launch. This marks Vandenberg’s 32nd launch in just over a year. (U.S. Space Force photo by A1C Kadielle Shaw)