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<\/p>\nAstra and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are still readying for the first launch in a dual-mission \u201claunch challenge\u201d. Astra, the launch contractor, is currently conducting final preparations ahead of the launch of their Rocket 3.0 vehicle, nicknamed \u201c1 of 3\u201d. Both missions will launch from the Pacific Spaceport Complex \u2013 Alaska (PSCA) in Kodiak, Alaska. The first of the launch duo was scrubbed on Monday, the final opportunity of the current window payment milestone window.<\/p>\n
Astra and the DARPA launch challenge<\/p>\n
The launch will be the third for Astra, coming after two launches in July and November 2018. Both launched from the PSCA in Alaska. These were originally believed to be failures. However, Astra stated that the first was successful, and the second was only \u201cshorter than planned\u201d. Neither were designed to reach orbit, as they didn\u2019t have functioning second stages.<\/p>\n
The company was known for operating in almost complete secrecy. Very little was known about their rockets, tests, and launch attempts. The only public sighting of an Astra rocket was by a news helicopter in early 2018. Their first rocket, named \u201cRocket 1.0\u201d, was spotted being readied for a test at the former Naval Air Station Alameda in Alameda, California \u2013 just down the street from their factory.<\/p>\n
However, Astra recently came out of the shadows, and has released some information about their operations.<\/p>\n
Their current rocket, named \u201cRocket 3.0\u201d, is a two-stage, five-engine, kerosene and liquid oxygen-powered rocket. The pumps of the first stage engines are powered by electric motors, similar to the Rutherford engines on Rocket Lab\u2019s Electron rocket.<\/p>\n
The first stage engines \u2013 named \u201cDelphin\u201d, after a dolphin-like Greek sea god \u2013 are arranged in a pentagon pattern, which differs from other five-engine arrangements. Notably, the five engines on the Saturn V\u2019s first and second stages were arranged in a cross pattern.<\/p>\n
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Rendering of Astra\u2019s Rocket 3.0. Credit: DARPA.<\/p>\n
Rocket 3.0 was designed with portability in mind \u2013 so much so that it can fit inside a standard shipping container for transport. According to Astra, it can lift up to 150kg of payload to a 500km sun-synchronous orbit.<\/p>\n
Rocket 3.0 is meant to be simple and easy to produce. Its tanks are made of aluminum, a less-expensive and easier to work with \u2013 though heavier \u2013 material than the carbon fiber seen on vehicles from Rocket Lab, Firefly, and Vector.<\/p>\n
Spaceflight history books (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n For the initial missions, Astra will launch out of the PSCA in Kodiak, Alaska. From there, they will be able to reach polar and sun-synchronous orbits.<\/p>\n The PSCA is no stranger to launching rockets. Two dozen \u2013 three of them to orbit \u2013 have lifted off from the facility between 1998 and 2019, including two from Astra. The complex contains two launch pads, though they lack much of the infrastructure needed for Astra\u2019s rockets. This required the company to bring its own launch mount, strongback, and flame deflector.<\/p>\n In addition to Kodiak, Astra plans to activate a second launch site in the Marshall Islands. This will allow them to reach low-inclination orbits. They have also mentioned a possible launch site at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island in Virginia.<\/p>\n Astra has over a dozen launch contracts signed, but it is unknown when \u2013 or wherefrom \u2013 they will launch.<\/p>\n Astra\u2019s \u201cRocket 1.0\u201d performing a static fire test in Alameda, California. Credit: Astra<\/p>\n Tuesday\u2019s launch, the first in the challenge, will see \u201c1 of 3\u201d lift four small payloads to a 445km orbit. DARPA has stated that they will accept an orbit as low at 150km as a success.<\/p>\n The list of payloads includes two cubesats from the University of South Florida that will test communications between cubesats, a single Department of Defense-sponsored cubesat called \u201cPrometheus\u201d, and Tiger Innovations\u2019 Space Object Automated Reporting Systems (SOARS) payload \u2013 which will remain attached to the second stage.<\/p>\n Astra only learned of the payload manifest on January 22 of this year. As part of the challenge, they will have to integrate the payloads themselves.<\/p>\n The rocket \u2013 inside its shipping container \u2013 was flown to Alaska onboard a C130 cargo plane on February 18. A semi-truck then carried the rocket to its launch site later that day.<\/p>\n Astra\u2019s \u201c1 of 3\u201d rocket landing at Kodiak Island ahead of launch on February 19. Credit: DARPA.<\/p>\n Payload integration was performed on February 19. The fairing was closed on the 21st, and the rocket rolled out to the launch pad on the 23rd.<\/p>\n Should the first mission be a success and launch on time, Astra will be awarded a $2 million prize. The company will then become eligible for the second part of the challenge.<\/p>\n The second part of the challenge requires the company to launch a second rocket within a few weeks from a separate launch pad. Previously, the company would have had to launch from a different site in the United States, but this was later changed to only require a separate launch pad at the PSCA.<\/p>\n Because of the change in requirements, Astra will only need to move their equipment a few hundred meters to the second launch pad at PSCA. While this is easier than relocating to a separate launch facility, it will still be a difficult task.<\/p>\n The window for the second launch is sometime in March. Astra \u2013 and the general public \u2013 will learn of the specific launch window and payload manifest as it grows nearer.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Capture.png\")
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