ELaNa 41Mission: Astra Space Inc., VCLS Demo-25 CubeSat Missions scheduled to be deployed * BAMA-1 - University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama * CURIE - University of California, Berkeley * INCA - New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico * QubeSat - University of California, Berkeley * R5-S1 - NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
Astra is on track to test its LV0008 vehicle with a static fire test at LC-46.https://twitter.com/vishaldalmia/status/1480555064540471302
From the latest FAA ATCSSC Operations Plan:Quote from: FAAPRIMARY 18/1800-2137Z -ASTRA3.3BACKUP 19-22/1800-2137Zhttps://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_otherdis.jsp?advn=16&adv_date=01122022&facId=DCC&title=OPERATIONS+PLAN&titleDate=01/12/22
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ALAMEDA, California. December 6, 2021– Astra Space, Inc. (“Astra”) (Nasdaq: ASTR) today announced that it plans to deploy its first satellite in orbit for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in January 2022. The launch from Cape Canaveral will be conducted out of Space Launch Complex 46 (SLC-46) and will be Astra’s first launch out of Cape Canaveral.“This historic launch site has been prepared for a new commercial launch partner in less than year, which is a tremendous milestone for our combined team, and illustrates how SLD 45 sets the pace for access to space.” said Brigadier General Stephen Purdy, Commander of Space Launch Delta 45 and Director of the Eastern Range. “SLD 45, Space Florida, and Astra have moved at a rapid speed to demonstrate critical and responsive launch capabilities. We are excited to welcome Astra to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.”Astra and Space Launch Delta 45, a part of the United States Space Force, enabled Astra to launch out of Cape Canaveral in record time – shortening the multi-year approval time to months.“Launching out of the Cape allows us to serve customers with mid-inclination delivery needs, broadening our market,” said Martin Attiq, Chief Business Officer at Astra. “This is an additional step in our global spaceport strategy and positions us to serve the broad low earth orbit (LEO) market.”Astra’s launch will be livestreamed in partnership with NASASpaceFlight. Updates will be shared on Astra’s Twitter feed, @astra.
Space Launch Complex-46 in Cape Canaveral — Photo by John Kraus
NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) has awarded multiple Venture Class Launch Services Demonstration 2 (VCLS Demo 2) contracts to launch small satellites (SmallSats) to space, including CubeSats, microsats or nanosatellites. The three companies selected to provide these commercial launch capabilities, and the value of their firm fixed-price contracts, are: * Astra Space Inc. of Alameda, California: $3.9 million * Relativity Space Inc. of Long Beach, California: $3.0 million * Firefly Black LLC of Cedar Park, Texas: $9.8 millionSmallSats, including CubeSats, are playing an increasingly larger role in exploration, technology demonstration, scientific research, and educational investigations at NASA. These miniature satellites provide a low-cost platform for NASA missions.LSP supports the agency’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) by providing launch opportunities to CubeSats that are awaiting launch. The VCLS Demo 2 contracts will launch CubeSats selected through the CSLI to demonstrate a launch capability for smaller payloads that NASA anticipates it will require on a recurring basis for future science missions.The Earth Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate has partnered with LSP to fund the VCLS Demo 2 contracts. These VCLS Demo 2 launches of small satellites can tolerate a higher level of risk than larger missions and will demonstrate – and help mitigate – risks associated with the use of new launch vehicles providing access to space for future small spacecraft and missions.For more information about NASA’s Launch Services Program, visit:https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/index.htmlFor more information about NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/home/CubeSats_initiative.html-end-
Static fire attempt @1300E today, Saturday Jan. 15.
Astra rocket / January TBA @ 1-4pm EST
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Per the FAA ATCSCC Operations Plan, the launch is now planned for Sunday, January 23 with a backup day of Wednesday, January 26.Quote from: FAAPRIMARY 23/1800-2137Z -ASTRA3.3ABACKUP 26/1800-2137Zhttps://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_otherdis.jsp?advn=45&adv_date=01172022&facId=DCC&title=OPERATIONS+PLAN&titleDate=01/17/22
DAL GROUND DELAY PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED. IAD REMAINS IN THE PLAN AS WECONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. TEB ADDED TO THE PLAN DUE TOSPIKING DEMAND. SERMN_SOUTH ROUTE EXPIRES. STARLINK 4-6 ROCKET LAUNCH FORTHIS AFTERNOON WAS CANCELLED. ASTRA3.3A SPACE OPERATION WAS ALSO REMOVEDFROM THE PLAN. VIP TFR EXPECTED TO BE EXTENDED TILL 18/1700. ALL ASSOCIATEDROUTES WIL BE EXTENDED AS NECESSARY. NO VIP MOVEMENT IS EXPECTED TODAY.
Quote from: Ken the Bin on 01/17/2022 04:25 pmPer the FAA ATCSCC Operations Plan, the launch is now planned for Sunday, January 23 with a backup day of Wednesday, January 26.Quote from: FAAPRIMARY 23/1800-2137Z -ASTRA3.3ABACKUP 26/1800-2137Zhttps://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_otherdis.jsp?advn=45&adv_date=01172022&facId=DCC&title=OPERATIONS+PLAN&titleDate=01/17/22Looks like it may have been delayed once again:QuoteDAL GROUND DELAY PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED. IAD REMAINS IN THE PLAN AS WECONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. TEB ADDED TO THE PLAN DUE TOSPIKING DEMAND. SERMN_SOUTH ROUTE EXPIRES. STARLINK 4-6 ROCKET LAUNCH FORTHIS AFTERNOON WAS CANCELLED. ASTRA3.3A SPACE OPERATION WAS ALSO REMOVEDFROM THE PLAN. VIP TFR EXPECTED TO BE EXTENDED TILL 18/1700. ALL ASSOCIATEDROUTES WIL BE EXTENDED AS NECESSARY. NO VIP MOVEMENT IS EXPECTED TODAY.https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_otherdis.jsp?advn=61&adv_date=01172022&facId=DCC&title=OPERATIONS+PLAN&titleDate=01/17/22
Preparations are underway for @Astra’s first launch out of Cape Canaveral and first orbital payload delivery for @NASA! We will announce launch date/time once we receive our launch license from the FAA and complete static fire.Photos: @johnkrausphotos
180352Z JAN 22NAVAREA IV 53/22(11,14,26).WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. FLORIDA. 1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING 231800Z TO 232142Z JAN, ALTERNATE 261800Z TO 262142Z JAN IN AREAS BOUND BY: A. 28-30-18N 080-32-57W, 30-05-00N 077-42-00W, 31-02-00N 075-45-00W, 30-56-00N 075-40-00W, 29-59-00N 077-24-00W, 28-26-00N 080-14-00W, 28-25-00N 080-32-00W, 28-26-09N 080-33-54W. B. 36-50-00N 063-20-00W, 38-47-00N 056-33-00W, 37-46-00N 055-51-00W, 35-32-00N 062-39-00W.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 262242Z JAN 22.
Astra’s Chris Kemp says that their first launch from Cape Canaveral is coming up in the next week or so.
