Astra blames launch failure on wiring error and software flawby Jeff Foust — March 8, 2022 [SN]
Astra’s Rocket 3.3 lifts off from Cape Canaveral Feb. 10. The launch failed when the upper stage appeared to tumble after stage separation. Credit: Astra Space/NASASpaceFlight.comWASHINGTON — Astra Space said March 7 it identified two problems that led to the failure of a launch last month as the company gears up for a new launch that may be imminent.
In a March 7 statement, the company said an investigation into a Feb. 10 failure of its Rocket 3.3 vehicle to reach orbit determined the root cause was an error in a wiring diagram for the payload fairing that kept all its separation mechanisms from firing. That, in turn, kept the fairing from separating until the rocket’s upper stage, which is encapsulated by the fairing, fired its engine.
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https://spacenews.com/astra-blames-launch-failure-on-wiring-error-and-software-flaw/Astra gears up for next launch, signs Spaceflight contractby Jeff Foust — March 14, 2022 [SN]
Astra says its next Rocket 3.3 launch, taking place from Kodiak Island, Alaska, as soon as March 14, will be the first in a multi-launch contract with Spaceflight. Credit: NASASpaceflight LLC and Astra Space Inc.AUSTIN, Texas — Astra Space says it will attempt its next Rocket 3.3 launch as soon as March 14 as the first flight in a multi-launch contract with Spaceflight.
Astra said March 14 it received a license from the Federal Aviation Administration for that launch from Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska on Kodiak Island. Liftoff is scheduled for 12:22 p.m. Eastern in a 27-minute launch window, with a backup date of March 15.
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https://spacenews.com/astra-gears-up-for-next-launch-signs-spaceflight-contract/Astra’s Rocket 3.3 returns to flight with successful launchby Jeff Foust — March 15, 2022 Updated 6:45 p.m. Eastern with stock information. [SN]
Astra's Rocket 3.3 vehicle lifts off March 15 from Kodiak Island, Alaska, carrying payloads for three customers in a mission arranged by Spaceflight. Credit: NASASpaceflight LLC/Astra Space Inc.WASHINGTON — Astra successfully returned its Rocket 3.3 vehicle to flight March 15, placing several payloads into low Earth orbit.
The Rocket 3.3 vehicle, designated LV0009 by Astra, lifted off at 12:22 p.m. Eastern from Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska on Kodiak Island. The company scrubbed a launch attempt the previous day because of poor weather.
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https://spacenews.com/astras-rocket-3-3-returns-to-flight-with-successful-launch/Swarm launched satellites on Astra missionby Jeff Foust — March 22, 2022 [SN]
The March 15 launch of Astra's Rocket 3.3 carried 16 SpaceBEE satellites for Swarm Technologies, a customer who was undisclosed at the time of the launch. Credit: Brady Kenniston/AstraWASHINGTON — Swarm Technologies was the unidentified customer of an Astra Space launch this month that placed 16 of its tiny satellites into orbit.
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https://spacenews.com/swarm-launched-satellites-on-astra-mission/Astra wins order for electric thrusters from LeoStellaby Jeff Foust — April 12, 2022 [SN]
The Astra Spacecraft Engine that Astra Space sold “multiple” units of to LeoStella was developed by Apollo Fusion, a startup acquired by Astra last year as part of efforts to diversify beyond launch. Credit: AstraWASHINGTON — Astra Space announced April 12 an order of electric thrusters by LeoStella, part of the company’s efforts to move beyond launch.
Astra said it sold “multiple” Astra Spacecraft Engines to LeoStella, the Seattle-based smallsat manufacturer. The companies did not disclose the value of the agreement or even the number of thrusters ordered, but Astra said those thrusters will be delivered starting later this year and continuing into 2023.
https://spacenews.com/astra-wins-order-for-electric-thrusters-from-leostella/Astra prepares for TROPICS launch campaignby Jeff Foust — May 7, 2022 [SN]
Astra, which conducted a launch of its Rocket 3.3 vehicle from Cape Canaveral in February, will return for three launches of NASA’s TROPICS satellites later this quarter. Credit: Astra/John KrausWASHINGTON — Small launch vehicle developer Astra says it is ready to perform a series of launches for NASA once it receives a license for those missions.
In a May 5 earnings call, Astra executives said they were ready to perform the first of three launches of its Rocket 3.3 vehicle from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying cubesats for NASA’s Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of SmallSats (TROPICS) mission. The six satellites will be launched on three Rocket 3.3 vehicles over a relatively short period.
https://spacenews.com/astra-prepares-for-tropics-launch-campaign/Astra to launch from U.K. spaceportby Jeff Foust — May 10, 2022 [SN]
Astra, which has conducted launches from Alaska and Florida using small launch teams, says it will start launches from SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands starting in 2023. Credit: Astra SpaceWASHINGTON — Astra announced May 10 that it plans to carry out launches from a spaceport in the Shetland Islands starting in 2023 as part of international expansion plans.
Astra said it is partnering with SaxaVord Spaceport to provide launch services from that facility, located on the island of Unst, the northernmost of the Shetland Islands. Those launches would begin in 2023 pending final agreements and regulatory approvals.
https://spacenews.com/astra-to-launch-from-u-k-spaceport/Astra reveals details of next, larger rocketby Jeff Foust — May 12, 2022 [SN]
An illustration of Astra’s Rocket 4.0, which will be able to place up to 300 kilograms into low Earth orbit. Credit: AstraWASHINGTON — Astra disclosed details about its new launch vehicle that will be capable of carrying heavier payloads and flying more frequently.
At its “Spacetech Day” event at its Alameda, California, headquarters May 12, company executives offered some details about what it calls Launch System 2.0, a system that includes a new rocket called Rocket 4.0.
https://spacenews.com/astra-reveals-details-of-next-larger-rocket/Astra ready for first of three NASA TROPICS launchesby Jeff Foust — June 9, 2022 [SN]
Astra will perform the first of three launches of NASA TROPICS cubesats from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral as soon as June 12. Credit: Astra/John KrausWASHINGTON — Astra Space is preparing to conduct the first of three launches of NASA cubesats to monitor tropical storms as soon as June 12, pending receipt of a launch license.
The company announced June 8 that it was ready for the launch of two Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) cubesats on its Rocket 3.3 vehicle from Cape Canaveral on June 12. The launch is the first of three under a NASA contract awarded in February 2021 valued at $7.95 million.
https://spacenews.com/astra-ready-for-first-of-three-nasa-tropics-launches/Astra launch of NASA TROPICS cubesats failsby Jeff Foust — June 12, 2022 [SN]
Astra’s Rocket 3.3 lifts off from Cape Canaveral June 12 carrying two NASA TROPICS cubesats. The launch failure, though, when the upper stage shut down prematurely. Credit: NASASpaceflight LLC/Astra Space Inc.ARCADIA, Calif. — An Astra launch of two NASA cubesats to monitor tropical storms failed June 12 when the rocket’s upper stage shut down prematurely.
Astra’s Rocket 3.3 vehicle, designated LV0010, lifted off from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 1:43 p.m. Eastern. The liftoff took place near the end of a two-hour window that opened at 12 p.m. Eastern, after an initial launch attempt was stopped less than two minutes before liftoff because of an issue with the condition of the vehicle’s liquid oxygen propellant.
The launch initially went according to plan, with the first stage firing for three minutes, followed by engine shutdown, deployment of the payload fairing, and stage separation. The upper stage engine ignited for a burn intended to last 5 minutes and 15 seconds, according to a mission timeline distributed by the company.
https://spacenews.com/astra-launch-of-nasa-tropics-cubesats-fails/Two hurricane research satellites lost in Astra launch failureJune 12, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
Astra’s Rocket 3.3 vehicle lifted off at 1:43 p.m. EDT (1743 GMT) Sunday from Cape Canaveral with the first two NASA TROPICS hurricane research satellites. Credit: Astra / NASASpaceflight(...) “We regret not being able to deliver the first two TROPICS satellites,” tweeted Chris Kemp, co-founder and CEO of Astra, a company founded in 2016 that focuses on small satellite launch services. “Nothing is more important to our team than the trust of our customers and the successful delivery of the remaining TROPICS satellites. We will share more when we have fully reviewed data.”
The loss of the first two TROPICS satellites isn’t a death knell for the mission. NASA officials said before Sunday’s launch that only four of the six satellites, or two of the three launches from Astra, need to work to meet the mission’s success criteria.
“Although today’s launch with Astra did not go as planned, the mission offered a great opportunity for new science and launch capabilities,” tweeted Thomas Zurbuchen, head of NASA’s science mission directorate. “Earth venture missions, like this one, are low cost opportunities to send NASA science to space. It also enables more opportunities for researchers to have access to space.” (...)
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/06/12/two-hurricane-research-satellites-lost-in-astra-launch-failure/