Astra becomes the fastest rocket company to reach orbitTL;DR: iterative development works, blowing things up works.
Looks like Astra has an upcoming launch from Florida in the next ~6 months.1903-EX-ST-2021
Astra’s next rocket, LV0008, is “well on its way to being integrated,” Lyon said Monday. Officials said details about the LV0008 launch would be announced soon.Scott Higginbotham, head of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative at Kennedy Space Center, said Friday that the space agency is the sole customer for the next Astra launch. The mission is part of NASA’s Venture Class Launch Services, or VCLS, program, which awarded Astra a $3.9 million contract last year for a commercial CubeSat launch.Astra’s first launch for NASA could happen before the end of the year, according to Higginbotham.NASA and Astra officials declined to identify the launch site for the VCLS demonstration mission, but multiple sources said the mission is currently slated to fly from pad 46, a commercial launch complex operated by Space Florida at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Alaska Aerospace, Pacific Spaceport ComplexAlaska Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) will be conducting a launch from Launch Pad LP-3B at Narrow Cape, Kodiak, Alaska, with a launch azimuth of 172°. Daily launch operations are scheduled between 0500-0830 UTC which is 2000-2330 Alaska Time on December 15th through December 21st, 2021 (local). Mariners are requested to remain clear of the Hazard Areas during the scheduled launch operations.
This notice from PSCA doesn't say whether it is Astra, but it is the pad that they use.Quote from: PSCAAlaska Aerospace, Pacific Spaceport ComplexAlaska Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) will be conducting a launch from Launch Pad LP-3B at Narrow Cape, Kodiak, Alaska, with a launch azimuth of 172°. Daily launch operations are scheduled between 0500-0830 UTC which is 2000-2330 Alaska Time on December 15th through December 21st, 2021 (local). Mariners are requested to remain clear of the Hazard Areas during the scheduled launch operations.
Quote from: Ken the Bin on 11/24/2021 04:18 amThis notice from PSCA doesn't say whether it is Astra, but it is the pad that they use.Quote from: PSCAAlaska Aerospace, Pacific Spaceport ComplexAlaska Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) will be conducting a launch from Launch Pad LP-3B at Narrow Cape, Kodiak, Alaska, with a launch azimuth of 172°. Daily launch operations are scheduled between 0500-0830 UTC which is 2000-2330 Alaska Time on December 15th through December 21st, 2021 (local). Mariners are requested to remain clear of the Hazard Areas during the scheduled launch operations.It should be for ABL as they are the next publicly scheduled user for that clean pad.2021Late - L2 Aerospace 1, L2 Aerospace 2 - RS1 (ABL space system) [first flight] - Kodiak LP-3B
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 11/24/2021 05:28 amQuote from: Ken the Bin on 11/24/2021 04:18 amThis notice from PSCA doesn't say whether it is Astra, but it is the pad that they use.Quote from: PSCAAlaska Aerospace, Pacific Spaceport ComplexAlaska Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) will be conducting a launch from Launch Pad LP-3B at Narrow Cape, Kodiak, Alaska, with a launch azimuth of 172°. Daily launch operations are scheduled between 0500-0830 UTC which is 2000-2330 Alaska Time on December 15th through December 21st, 2021 (local). Mariners are requested to remain clear of the Hazard Areas during the scheduled launch operations.It should be for ABL as they are the next publicly scheduled user for that clean pad.2021Late - L2 Aerospace 1, L2 Aerospace 2 - RS1 (ABL space system) [first flight] - Kodiak LP-3BIn ABL's STA application they talk about LP-3C
https://twitter.com/SLDelta45/status/1466594550705639424QuoteCongrats to SLD 45 & @SpaceX on this evening’s Starlink 4-3 launch. This launch kicks off what is sure to be a busy December, with 5 launches slated to close out the year. Without the dedication from our teammates, this high ops tempo would not be possible! #SetThePaceForSpaceThat could have been phrased a little more clearly, but if I read it as Starlink 4-3 being the first of five launches in December (one of which is ULA) then no pop-up Starlink launches would be in there (which doesn't necessarily mean one couldn't occur).
Congrats to SLD 45 & @SpaceX on this evening’s Starlink 4-3 launch. This launch kicks off what is sure to be a busy December, with 5 launches slated to close out the year. Without the dedication from our teammates, this high ops tempo would not be possible! #SetThePaceForSpace
Five December Kennedy/Canaveral launches:Starlink 4-3STP-3IXPETurksat 5BDragon SpX-24.This probably means that the Astra Rocket AV0008 launch from LC-46 is delayed into 2022.
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 12/03/2021 04:32 amFive December Kennedy/Canaveral launches:Starlink 4-3STP-3IXPETurksat 5BDragon SpX-24.This probably means that the Astra Rocket AV0008 launch from LC-46 is delayed into 2022.What is the source that AV0008 was going from the Cape?
Quote from: gongora on 11/23/2021 06:07 pmLooks like Astra has an upcoming launch from Florida in the next ~6 months.1903-EX-ST-2021This is very likely the VCLS Demo-2A mission, which they hope to launch by the end of the year.From Stephen Clark's article on the LV0007 launch (bolds mine):Astra reaches orbit for first time, clearing way for commercial launches [dated Nov. 22]QuoteAstra’s next rocket, LV0008, is “well on its way to being integrated,” Lyon said Monday. Officials said details about the LV0008 launch would be announced soon.Scott Higginbotham, head of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative at Kennedy Space Center, said Friday that the space agency is the sole customer for the next Astra launch. The mission is part of NASA’s Venture Class Launch Services, or VCLS, program, which awarded Astra a $3.9 million contract last year for a commercial CubeSat launch.Astra’s first launch for NASA could happen before the end of the year, according to Higginbotham.NASA and Astra officials declined to identify the launch site for the VCLS demonstration mission, but multiple sources said the mission is currently slated to fly from pad 46, a commercial launch complex operated by Space Florida at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Quote from: brussell on 12/03/2021 08:52 pmWhat is the source that AV0008 was going from the Cape?LV0008 is launching from the Cape according to SFN, as stated a few posts back:Quote from: Yiosie on 11/24/2021 02:24 amQuoteNASA and Astra officials declined to identify the launch site for the VCLS demonstration mission, but multiple sources said the mission is currently slated to fly from pad 46, a commercial launch complex operated by Space Florida at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
What is the source that AV0008 was going from the Cape?
QuoteNASA and Astra officials declined to identify the launch site for the VCLS demonstration mission, but multiple sources said the mission is currently slated to fly from pad 46, a commercial launch complex operated by Space Florida at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
NASA and Astra officials declined to identify the launch site for the VCLS demonstration mission, but multiple sources said the mission is currently slated to fly from pad 46, a commercial launch complex operated by Space Florida at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The goal of the S4 CROSSOVER mission, is to obtain flight heritage testing for a prototypepayload host platform. Features that will be tested for use in supporting future payloads, include aGlobalstar transmitter and an Iridium transceiver, as well space environmental instruments tocharacterize the radiation and plasma densities to which the payloads will be exposed. S4CROSSOVER is self powered and operates independently of the larger Astra launch vehiclesecond stage to which it is permanently attached. It demonstrates a platform that may in the futurebe used to host payloads; it is an experimental activity.The Astra rocket, LV009, will be launched from the Pacific Spaceport on Kodiak Island Alaska, NoEarlier Than January 15, 2022, into a circular sun synch orbit at 525 km altitude, 97.5 inclination.Transmission from the S4 CROSSOVER will begin after second stage engine cutoff, activated byrelays on the launch vehicle, and will operate until demise, which is expected to occur within a fewweeks after launch.
I guess Astra doesn't intend to take a long break after their launch from Florida.1952-EX-ST-2021 Near Space Launch, Inc.QuoteThe goal of the S4 CROSSOVER mission, is to obtain flight heritage testing for a prototypepayload host platform. Features that will be tested for use in supporting future payloads, include aGlobalstar transmitter and an Iridium transceiver, as well space environmental instruments tocharacterize the radiation and plasma densities to which the payloads will be exposed. S4CROSSOVER is self powered and operates independently of the larger Astra launch vehiclesecond stage to which it is permanently attached. It demonstrates a platform that may in the futurebe used to host payloads; it is an experimental activity.The Astra rocket, LV009, will be launched from the Pacific Spaceport on Kodiak Island Alaska, NoEarlier Than January 15, 2022, into a circular sun synch orbit at 525 km altitude, 97.5 inclination.Transmission from the S4 CROSSOVER will begin after second stage engine cutoff, activated byrelays on the launch vehicle, and will operate until demise, which is expected to occur within a fewweeks after launch.
How does a 525km circular orbit decay "within a few weeks" after launch? I thought objects at that altitude took more like a few years to decay. Or does "operate until demise" mean something else besides reentry...?
Quote from: AstroWare on 12/06/2021 10:09 pmHow does a 525km circular orbit decay "within a few weeks" after launch? I thought objects at that altitude took more like a few years to decay. Or does "operate until demise" mean something else besides reentry...?Maybe the payload runs on batteries and can't recharge.
Quote from: gongora on 12/08/2021 02:01 pmQuote from: AstroWare on 12/06/2021 10:09 pmHow does a 525km circular orbit decay "within a few weeks" after launch? I thought objects at that altitude took more like a few years to decay. Or does "operate until demise" mean something else besides reentry...?Maybe the payload runs on batteries and can't recharge.No, the payload runs on solar cells.https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/s4-crossover.htm
Myriota made an FCC filing regarding their new Lemur based 3U satellites.SAT-APL-20211213-00190QuoteThe 36 satellites will be launched into six (6) equally spaced, sun-synchronous orbital planes at a planned altitude between 500 and 550km, with the satellites ultimately equally spaced within each circular orbital plane and each orbital plane being separated by two (2) hours of LTDN. The launches will take place between June and December 2022 on a combination of rideshare and dedicated launch vehicles. It is anticipated that the launch vehicles will include the SpaceX Falcon 9 and the Astra Rocket v4. This is subject to revision based on launch availability, but the anticipated orbital parameters will not change.
The 36 satellites will be launched into six (6) equally spaced, sun-synchronous orbital planes at a planned altitude between 500 and 550km, with the satellites ultimately equally spaced within each circular orbital plane and each orbital plane being separated by two (2) hours of LTDN. The launches will take place between June and December 2022 on a combination of rideshare and dedicated launch vehicles. It is anticipated that the launch vehicles will include the SpaceX Falcon 9 and the Astra Rocket v4. This is subject to revision based on launch availability, but the anticipated orbital parameters will not change.