Firefly Aerospace successfully launched the ICOR Space Vehicle (LM 400) on March 11, 2026, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellite, built on Lockheed Martin's LM 400 bus platform, is designed for Earth observation operations. The mission represents a critical validation of Firefly's commercial launch capabilities for national security and civilian remote sensing applications.

The Firefly Alpha Block 1 rocket carried the payload to orbit from the California coast, which serves as a primary launch site for polar and sun-synchronous orbital missions. Firefly Aerospace, the operator and launch provider, selected Vandenberg for its geographic advantages in reaching these demanding orbital inclinations. The site's infrastructure accommodates the company's medium-lift launch vehicle.

The successful deployment marked a significant recovery for Firefly following an April 2025 launch failure. This mission demonstrated renewed reliability and operational maturity for the Alpha vehicle, strengthening Firefly's position in the competitive commercial launch market. The successful orbital insertion of the LM 400 payload validated the rocket's performance across critical flight systems and represented an important milestone for both Firefly Aerospace and its customer Lockheed Martin.