After three previous failures, the fourth orbital attempt of the privately funded Astra Space Rocket 3 series finally made it into orbit. It was launched from the Kodiak Island based Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska at 0604 GMT on 20 November 2021. The launch, codenamed LV0007, used the improved 3.3 version of the rocket which has extended propellant tanks that allow a longer first-stage burn.
No actual spacecraft was carried but rather a non-separating instrumented dummy payload dubbed STP-27 AD2. It was aboard to record data about the flight as part of the US Department of Defense funded Space Test Program (STP). The orbit achieved was 507 x 438 km at an inclination of 86 degrees.
Astra Space Rocket 3.3 launches successfully on 20 Nov 2021. Courtesy: NASASpaceflight/Astra Space
The Astra Space Rocket 3.3 launch in August did not make it into orbit after a bizarre sideways move on the launchpad. One of its five Delphin first-stage engines was knocked out by ground explosion caused by a fuel leak.
In December 2020, an Astra Space Rocket 3.0 flight failed to achieve orbit when a mixture ration triggered premature shutdown of the upper stage’s Aether engine.
In September 2020, an Astra 3.0 was allowed to fall back to Earth following a commanded first-stage shutdown. The rocket had gone off course due to a roll induced by a pogo thrust issue.
Possibly remembering how his SpaceX firm lost its first three Falcon 1 rocket launches before a successful fourth flight, Elon Musk sent Astra Space Inc his congratulations via Twitter.
