An Alpha rocket delivered a belated birthday celebration to the U.S. Space Force Friday morning with a liftoff at Vandenberg Space Force Base, one of two pre-Christmas launches reportedly planned within 24 hours from the West Coast.

The Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket for the Fly the Lightning mission blasted off at 9:32 a.m. from Space Launch Complex-2 after waiting two days for better weather while rain storms soaked the Central Coast. 

Meanwhile, SpaceX reportedly hopes to launch a Falcon 9 rocket early Saturday morning from the base.

On Friday morning, cloud remnants left over from the rainy weather spoiled the view for many spectators on the Central Coast. In Santa Maria, gaps in clouds allowed just quick glimpses of Alpha’s flight.

Less than 10 minutes later, Firefly officials said the mission had reached a nominal orbit and was en route to deploy the spacecraft.

A primary mission for Friday’s flight involved placing a Lockheed Martin Corp. spacecraft Electronically Steerable Antenna technology demonstrator into orbit.

But it also aimed to demonstrate responsive space capabilities, or an ability to quickly prep a mission and launch a payload rather than requiring months or years. 

Six hours after liftoff, Firefly and Lockheed Martin representatives remained silent about the outcome of the mission, suggesting something went wrong.

“Alpha reached orbit and the second stage engine shut off as planned. In about 40 minutes, we’ll briefly relight Firefly’s second stage engine to circularize our orbit. GO ALPHA, way to Fly the Lightning,” a social media post said.

The team initially aimed for departure Wednesday, which would have coincided with the fourth anniversary of the start of U.S. Space Force as its own military branch. 

Units focused on space missions have been moved from the Air Force, Army and Navy into Space Force as its own branch of the military.

Friday’s mission marked the fourth for the Alpha rocket since September 2021 for the Texas-based Firefly Aerospace. 

Early Saturday morning, SpaceX reportedly intends to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying two satellites for the Germany military.

Liftoff from Space Launch Complex-4 reportedly is scheduled to occur between 4:56 a.m. and 7 a.m. Saturday.

On Friday night, SpaceX said the mission’s 83-minute launch window opens at 5:11 a.m.

If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Sunday with the same window.

The rocket’s first-stage booster is expected to return to Vandenberg approximately 8 minutes after launch. That means Central Coast residents may hear a sonic boom.

Deployment the satellites will occur less than 30 minutes after liftoff.

SpaceX said a live webcast of the Vandenberg mission is scheduled to begin on the SpaceX account of the site formerly known as Twitter about 15 minutes before liftoff later this month.

A livestream of the countdown reportedly will be available on YouTube by clicking here.