Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket suffered a technical issue on Tuesday as it ascended into space on its sixth flight, causing a Lockheed Martin satellite it was supposed to place into orbit to crash into the Pacific Ocean.

A rocket launch from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base did not go to plan after the spacecraft experienced a midair "mishap."

The sixth launch of Firefly Aerospace 's Alpha rocket also ended in failure. The rocket lifted off on Tuesday at 7:07 am IST from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California but malfunctioned before reaching the intended orbit, causing it to fall into the Pacific Ocean with the payload.