Astra Space fails in rocket launch

ORLANDO, Fla. — Astra Space’s launch from the Space Coast on Sunday failed when its second stage could not put two NASA satellites into proper orbit.

While the Alameda, Calif.,-based company was able to launch its Rocket 3.3 from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the mission proved unsuccessful, the second time the company has come up short from Florida.

“We had a nominal firststage flight; however the upper-stage engine did shut down early and we did not deliver our payloads to orbit,” said Astra Space Director of Product Management Carolina Grossman.

The launch was supposed to be the first of three planned flights to put six satellites into orbit for NASA’s Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity Constellation mission.

There are still four more Time- Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity Constellation satellites to be placed into orbit, part of a $7.95 million contract Astra Space was awarded in 2021.

“We regret not being able to deliver the first two TROPICS satellites,” said company cofounder and CEO Chris Kemp.

“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.”

Astra’s rockets have made 10 launches to date, with just two Alaska flights labeled as successes.

The TROPICS flights are being managed under NASA’s Launch Services Program, which has been partnering with less-proven launch providers such as Astra on what it acknowledges are higher-risk missions for failure.

On a post to its website, NASA stated the program “continues to work with emerging launch providers to deliver low-cost science missions into orbit through contracts that align with commercial practices, using less NASA oversight to achieve lower launch costs.”