Astra (aerospace)

History

Astra was incorporated in October 2016 by Chris Kemp and Adam London.[2][3]

Two suborbital test flights were conducted in 2018 from Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska (PSCA): one on 20 July 2018 (Rocket 1.0), and one on 29 November 2018 (Rocket 2.0). Both were believed to be launch failures. However, Astra stated that both were successful and the second one was "shorter than planned".[4][3] Astra spent 2019 designing and building Rocket 3.0 integrating propulsion systems, avionics, and other pressurization/plumbing components into a high-performance electric pump-fed orbital launch vehicle.

From 2018 to 2020, Astra was a contender in the DARPA Launch Challenge; first, as one of three teams, although at this point Astra kept its involvement secret and was only referred to as "stealth startup" by the Challenge organizers, then as the other two teams dropped out, as the only team left in the competition. The competition involved launching two small satellite payloads into orbit from two different launch sites in the U.S. with very little time between launches. Astra attempted to perform a launch for the Challenge late February – early March 2020 from PSCA, but had to scrub the launch attempts and in the end, did not launch a rocket for the Challenge. With the competition's only remaining team (Astra) being unable to launch a rocket within the set time frame, DARPA announced the DARPA Launch Challenge closed on 2 March 2020 with no winner. The prize of $12 million went unclaimed.[4]

In June 2020, the Department of Defense announced that it planned to award Astra (and five other companies) two commercial rideshare satellite launch contracts using funding provided through the CARES Act.[5]

Rocket 3
Rocket 3.0 in February 2020

The Rocket 3 is a 38-foot-tall (11.6 m) orbital launch vehicle that has a payload capacity of 50–150 kg (110–330 lb) to a 500 km (310 mi) sun-synchronous orbit.[6] It consists of two stages. The first stage has 5 engines called "Delphin".[4]

Rocket 3.0

The first Rocket 3, "1 of 3" or "Rocket 3.0", completed a static fire test at Castle Airport, California. It was planned to launch from Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska (PSCA) with attempted launches in late February and early March of 2020, with the last launch attempt on 2 March 2020, as part of the DARPA Launch Challenge.[7] Three CubeSats for the U.S. Department of Defense and the University of South Florida, along with a space-based beacon designed to aid in space traffic management, were slated to ride into orbit on "1 of 3". On 2 March 2020, DARPA and Astra officials said the Prometheus CubeSat, the University of South Florida's two Articulated Reconnaissance and Communications Expedition (ARCE) nanosatellites, and the space-based radio beacon payload were to be removed from the rocket after the end of the Launch Challenge. Astra had failed to launch within the DARPA Launch Challenge's launch window; launch preparations continued regardless for the test flight.[4][8]

On 23 March 2020, "1 of 3" was destroyed by fire during launch preparations. The incident at the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island occurred while Astra was detanking fuel during a pre-launch countdown dress rehearsal.[9] A valve on Rocket 3.0 remained open.[9] This incident was first reported by KMXT, a local public radio station.[10] Kemp confirmed no payloads were on-board Astra's rocket at the time of the incident.[11]

Rocket 3.1

A second launch attempt is planned for no earlier than 20 July 2020 using the second Rocket 3 vehicle, Rocket 3.1 (formerly "2 of 3").[9]

Launch history

Past launches
Flight Date / time (UTC) Rocket Launch site Payload Payload mass Orbit Customer Outcome
1 20 July 2018[12] 1.0 PSCA Unknown Unknown Suborbital Unknown Success[13]
P120 mission for a commercial customer.[14] A unknown mishap occurred during the launch, but was declared a success.[12]
2 29 November 2018[15] 2.0 PSCA Unknown Unknown Suborbital Unknown Success[13]
Launch for a commercial customer.[16] Flight ended early then planned, possibly engine failures.[15][13] Second stage was not active, but was an "upper stage mass simulator".[15]
N/A 23 March 2020 3.0 PSCA LEO Lost
"1 of 3". Initially intended to be part of the DARPA Launch Challenge, but failed to launch within the challenge's launch window due to an issue with a sensor for the guidance, navigation, and control systems.[17][18] A fire occurred prior to launch on 23 March 2020, destroying the rocket.[19]

Future launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
20 July 2020[9] 3.1 PSCA TBA LEO TBA
Formerly "2 of 3". Second attempt to launch a Rocket 3 for the first time. Initially intended to be the second of two launches for the DARPA Launch Challenge, Rocket 3.1 will launch a commercial payload instead.
October 2020[20][21] 3.2[9] PSCA TBA SSO TBA
Formerly "3 of 3".
January 2021[20] 3.3[9] PSCA TBA SSO TBA

See also

References
  1. "Team | Astra". Astra. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  2. "DARPA Launch Challenge". Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  3. "Welcome | Astra". Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  4. Atkinson, Ian (2 March 2020). "Astra scrubs DARPA launch challenge attempt". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  5. Clark, Stephen (19 June 2020). "U.S. military to award smallsat launch contracts using COVID-19 relief funds". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  6. "Services | Astra". Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  7. Wall, Mike (29 February 2020). "Foul weather delays Astra's 1st DARPA Launch Challenge liftoff in Alaska". Space.com. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  8. Foust, Jeff (2 March 2020). "DARPA Launch Challenge ends without winner". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  9. Sheetz, Michael (16 June 2020). "Rocket startup Astra trying for an orbital launch again in July, renewing fundraising efforts". CNBC. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  10. George, Kavitha (23 March 2020). "BREAKING: "Anomaly" at Pacific Spaceport Complex launch rehearsal, no injuries as a result". KMXT 100.1 FM. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  11. Clark, Stephen (24 March 2020). "Astra suffers "anomaly" during pre-launch test in Alaska". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  12. Foust, Jeff (27 July 2018). "Alaska launch shrouded in secrecy". SpaceNews. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  13. "Astra scrubs DARPA launch challenge attempt". NASASpaceFlight.com. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  14. Alaska Aerospace. "PSCA Mission History" (PDF).
  15. Foust, Jeff (6 December 2018). "Astra Space suborbital launch fails". SpaceNews. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  16. Alaska Aerospace. "2018 AAC Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  17. Clark, Stephen (21 March 2020). "Astra readies for possible launch attempt next week". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  18. Foust, Jeff (2 March 2020). "DARPA Launch Challenge ends without winner". SpaceNews. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  19. Sheetz, Michael (5 April 2020). "Rocket startup Astra trims staff to survive pandemic until next year". CNBC. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  20. "Astra | Reserve A Small Satellite Launch". Astra. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  21. Krebs, Gunter (16 April 2020). "Astra Rocket". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
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