Astra will go again for its first orbital launch, CEO Chris Kemp tells me, with a window set to open on July 20 from Alaska's Pacific Spaceport Complex.Photo: Astra / John Kraus
Is this one going to be called Rocket 3.0 (2 of 3)?
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 06/13/2020 01:47 amIs this one going to be called Rocket 3.0 (2 of 3)?I think it's still (1 of 3).
Quote from: Rik ISS-fan on 06/13/2020 08:31 pmQuote from: Steven Pietrobon on 06/13/2020 01:47 amIs this one going to be called Rocket 3.0 (2 of 3)?I think it's still (1 of 3).If it doesn't go well, with the next be 1 of 4?Maybe if they have no more failures in a few years the second half dozen will start with "7 of 9".
Quote from: Comga on 06/13/2020 08:48 pmQuote from: Rik ISS-fan on 06/13/2020 08:31 pmQuote from: Steven Pietrobon on 06/13/2020 01:47 amIs this one going to be called Rocket 3.0 (2 of 3)?I think it's still (1 of 3).If it doesn't go well, with the next be 1 of 4?Maybe if they have no more failures in a few years the second half dozen will start with "7 of 9". If it doesn't go well maybe last thing Vector launches.
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 06/14/2020 11:19 amQuote from: Comga on 06/13/2020 08:48 pmQuote from: Rik ISS-fan on 06/13/2020 08:31 pmQuote from: Steven Pietrobon on 06/13/2020 01:47 amIs this one going to be called Rocket 3.0 (2 of 3)?I think it's still (1 of 3).If it doesn't go well, with the next be 1 of 4?Maybe if they have no more failures in a few years the second half dozen will start with "7 of 9". If it doesn't go well maybe last thing Vector launches.Vector's back? ;-)
Despite COVID-19, damage to our launch system, and on-going events affecting our country, the team has been impressively resilient and we’ve confirmed a launch window beginning July 20th out of Kodiak, Alaska!
Success for this flight means we accomplish enough to make orbit within three flights, which we have defined as at least achieving a nominal first stage burn.
Astra has announced the opening of their next launch window from Kodiak, Alaska: July 20th!I’m happy to share I’ll be back to photograph the company’s first orbital launch attempt.Let’s look at some previously-unreleased images I captured for Astra earlier this year:
In the above photo, Astra’s Rocket 3.0 is seen venting on the day of a launch attempt that was ultimately scrubbed due to weather. The high-contrast of whiteout skies made for a unique frame.Below, the vehicle is seen during a water suppression system test.
A stunning Alaska sunrise with Astra’s Rocket 3.0.
Pacific Spaceport Complex — Alaska is an incredibly scenic spaceport. This was where I was poised to view liftoff in early March. I’m looking forward to seeing a similar view next month.All photos: Me for @Astra
Volume up!
Say hello to Rocket 3.1, our orbital launch vehicle that just passed its 2nd static hotfire test with flying colors. Having completed testing, Rocket 3.1 is now packed up and on its way to Kodiak, Alaska for our first orbital launch attempt!
We are narrowing and finalizing our launch window - we'll be announcing that window early next week!
The Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) is planning to conduct a rocket launch from launch pad LP-3B at Narrow Cape, Kodiak, Alaska from 301930-302300 UTC which is 1130-1500 Alaska Daylight Savings Time on July 30th, 2020. If the launch does not occur on July 30th then it will be rescheduled for the following day during the same time window. Rescheduling could continue each day through August 7th, 2020. The following hazardous areas are recommended to be avoided during the daily launch windows. Additional information including the locations of the hazardous areas is available in an enclosure to this LNM.
Our incredible team got together for one last photo with Rocket 3.1 before it headed up to Kodiak last week!We're excited to announce that our 6-day launch window starts on August 2nd and is open from 12:30-4pm PT each day!
Chris Kemp, Astra’s co-founder and CEO, said the company will not be providing a live video stream of the launch to the public, but will release video imagery of the flight after it occurs.“We do not yet employ production, marketing, or communications folks, so our ability to produce a public webcast is limited,” Kemp said in response to questions from Spaceflight Now. “We are focusing all resources on engineering so that we can reach orbit in the next couple of flights.”
Maybe any locals are willing to set up a camera and stream?QuoteChris Kemp, Astra’s co-founder and CEO, said the company will not be providing a live video stream of the launch to the public, but will release video imagery of the flight after it occurs.“We do not yet employ production, marketing, or communications folks, so our ability to produce a public webcast is limited,” Kemp said in response to questions from Spaceflight Now. “We are focusing all resources on engineering so that we can reach orbit in the next couple of flights.”Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/23/astra-ships-next-small-satellite-launcher-to-alaska-spaceport/
https://twitter.com/Astra/status/1288212813878456320
Astra’s Rocket 3.1 launch vehicle is seen at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska, ahead of its August 2nd-7th launch window.This mission will be Astra’s first in a series of launches focused on iteratively reaching orbit.Photo: Me for @Astra
It's launch day! Liftoff is scheduled for 7pm PT. Weather in Kodiak is currently 70% favorable for launch. Follow us here for updates!📸 @johnkrausphotos
The mission is the first of three test flights planned by the privately-funded launch company to eventually reach orbit. Astra calls the launch vehicle awaiting liftoff from Alaska this week “Rocket 3.1.”Officials said it is unlikely the Rocket 3.1 test flight will enter orbit, although the two-stage vehicle is designed to do so.Chris Kemp, Astra’s co-founder and CEO, said the company is not intending to hit a “hole-in-one” on the Rocket 3.1 test flight by accomplishing all the milestones necessary to climb into space and accelerate to orbital velocity.“We intend to accomplish enough to ensure that we’re able to get to orbit after three flights, and for us that means a nominal first-stage burn and getting the upper stage to separate successfully,” Kemp said in a conference call with reporters last week.
If CEO doesn't have lot of faith his crew and LV how does expect his customers to.
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 08/02/2020 07:51 pmIf CEO doesn't have lot of faith his crew and LV how does expect his customers to.Its a test flight for crying out loud! He's being realistic on the chances of success and good on Astra for not risking customer payloads on this flight.
Kestrel (Falcon 1 second stage engine) was reported as 6,900 pounds-force (Vac) and Delphin (Rocket 3.1 first stage) is reported as 6,300 lbf (SL); both RP-1/LOX. Are they similar engines?
Quote from: sdsds on 08/03/2020 03:27 amKestrel (Falcon 1 second stage engine) was reported as 6,900 pounds-force (Vac) and Delphin (Rocket 3.1 first stage) is reported as 6,300 lbf (SL); both RP-1/LOX. Are they similar engines?No. Kestrel uses a traditional turbine pump fed engine, while Delphin is electric pump fed.
🌩️ Update: We won't be making a launch attempt today due to weather (triggered lightning). Our launch window is through August 7th and weather is expected to improve through the week.
Astra’s Rocket 3.1 is seen at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska, with the rising full moon as a backdrop in the early hours of August 3rd, 2020.Photo: Me for @Astra
🚀 Update: weather has improved to 60% favorable today! We are hoping to launch tonight and we will provide another update in a few hours📸 @johnkrausphotos
We are GO for tonight's launch attempt! Weather is closely being monitored, follow us live here @johnkrausphotos
Here's the Rocket 3.1 press kit. Vehicle detailsFirst Stage: Five 28 kN SL Delphin electric pump fed kerolox engines for 140 kN total.Second Stage: One 3.1 kN vacuum Aether pressure fed kerolox engineTotal Length: 11.6 mDiameter: 1.32 m
Loading propellant!https://twitter.com/Astra/status/1290847030777020416"T-45 minutes, loading propellantAs loading is ongoing, let's admire this helicopter photo of the Kodiak launch site@johnkrausphotos"
Small rocket builder Astra will not attempt to launch Rocket 3.1 today due to strong upper level winds, CEO Chris Kemp tells me. The company will go for another attempt on Thursday, with the window opening at 10 p.m. ET (02:00 UTC)Photo: @johnkrausphotos / @Astra
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 08/05/2020 03:09 amLoading propellant!*snip tweet*"T-45 minutes, loading propellantAs loading is ongoing, let's admire this helicopter photo of the Kodiak launch site@johnkrausphotos"I never thought of Alaska as so Green. It put me in mind of New South Wales.
Loading propellant!*snip tweet*"T-45 minutes, loading propellantAs loading is ongoing, let's admire this helicopter photo of the Kodiak launch site@johnkrausphotos"
🚀 Update: weather has improved and we are hoping to launch tonight! Our launch window is 7-9pm PT, follow us here for updates📸 @johnkrausphotos
Lost pressure in our water deluge system. We are going to stand down to fix the issue. — Astra (@Astra) August 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1291560572123779073
Quote from: otter on 08/07/2020 02:24 amhttps://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1291560572123779073Dr McDowell is being very generous. When Musk heard the price of military grade air conditioning units to supply temperature-regulated dry air to the Falcon 9 fairing, he bought double or triple the capacity in commercial air conditioning units. Low cost and reliability thru redundancy.Time is the most precious resource. That Astra has lost a day of their launch window to their water deluge system is hardly understandable as “getting to know the rocket system”.
Update: We are preparing for a launch attempt tonight, but upper level winds are expected to be unfavorable for our launch window that begins at 7pm PT. Hoping weather improves!
I suspect they are being so careful because it is their last shot. With all the cutbacks and also some recent and quite public, acrimonious departures, it may be that this is the last roll of the dice for Astra. I wish them luck, but some of the issues on this campaign do not bode well.
Quote from: ringsider on 08/08/2020 07:34 amI suspect they are being so careful because it is their last shot. With all the cutbacks and also some recent and quite public, acrimonious departures, it may be that this is the last roll of the dice for Astra. I wish them luck, but some of the issues on this campaign do not bode well.What departures? I'll admit to not tracking their status that carefully.
You think they're doing a Vector? That would explain how they went to a second launch opportunity so quickly.
We are still finalizing our launch window, but it looks like our next available opportunity will be later this month
The Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) is planning to conduct a rocket launch from launch pad LP-3B at Narrow Cape, Kodiak, Alaska from 310200-310430 UTC which is 1800-2030 Alaska Daylight Savings Time on August 30th, 2020. If the launch does not occur on August 30th then it will be rescheduled for the following day during the same time window. Rescheduling could continue each day through September 3rd, 2020 (September 4th for UTC).
🚀 Update: our next launch opportunity is August 30th to September 3rd!7-930pm Pacific Time each dayFollow us here for updates📷: @johnkrausphotos
Noticed the NOTAM for this launch attempt is no longer active, and a new one posted for Sept. 10-16 local time. Unless the disappearance of the NOTAM is a glitch, it suggests the launch has been postponed.
Weather is not looking very good for early next week, so after discussions with the range and FAA we have decided to switch to a new launch window beginning on Sept 10th. 7-930pm Pacific Time each dayMore updates to come!
https://twitter.com/Astra/status/1304231860092809216
Quote from: QuantumG on 09/11/2020 01:36 amhttps://twitter.com/Astra/status/1304231860092809216Is there anyone making a betting market on launch outcomes?
The launch window is now open, but we've not had any announcement that fuelling has started. There might be a delay due to the 30% go weather.
Was that rocket the same one which they were planning on launching for DARPA or was it a new one? (I seem to remember something about the other one having an incident on the pad / during testing some time after the DARPA attempt?)
Sorry to hear that. I’m sure you’ll figure it out though. Took us four launches to reach orbit. Rockets are hard.
Thanks Elon! Digging into the data so we can figure this out. Rocket 3.2 is ready to go...
Some amateur video of the launch/failure ...who seem strangely eager to help after the rocket explosion
We are excited to have made a ton of progress on our first of three attempts on our path to orbit! We are incredibly proud of our team; we will review the data, make changes and launch Rocket 3.2, which is nearly complete.📸: @johnkrausphotos
Data in this game is so hard won, so big congratulations to the team for pulling down actual flight data from today’s attempt!
Failed to reach orbit; failed during first stage burn. This was @Astra's first orbital launch attempt - better luck next time.
I'm old fashioned and think that to call something an orbital attempt it would need to be capable of making orbit.
We have liftoff!At 8:19pm PT, Rocket 3.1 left the Alaskan coast at Astra’s Kodiak launch site. We are excited to take this meaningful step towards orbit!Read more on our blog 👇
WE HAVE LIFTOFF!SEPTEMBER 12, 2020At 8:19pm PT, Rocket 3.1 left the Alaskan coast at Astra’s Kodiak launch site. We’re excited to have our first orbital attempt under our belt!As we’ve always said, we expect it to take three flights to make it to orbit. Tonight, we saw a beautiful launch! Preliminary data review indicates the rocket performed very well. Early in the flight, our guidance system appears to have introduced some slight oscillation into the flight, causing the vehicle to drift from its planned trajectory leading to a commanded shutdown of the engines by the flight safety system. We didn’t meet all of our objectives, but we did gain valuable experience, plus even more valuable flight data. This launch sets us well on our way to reaching orbit within two additional flights, so we’re happy with the result.We are incredibly proud of what the team accomplished today. This was our first orbital launch attempt, and the first flight of a rocket designed from the ground-up for low cost mass production and highly-automated launch operations. The entire launch system was deployed by six people in less than a week – completely unprecedented.Astra’s strategy is to learn fast through iterative development. Although we’re pleased with today’s outcome, we still have more work to do to reach orbit. Once we reach orbit, we will relentlessly continue to improve the economics of the system as we deliver our customers’ payloads.Over the next several weeks, we’ll be taking a close look at the flight data to determine how to make the next flight more successful. Rocket 3.2 is already built and ready for another big step towards orbit. Thank you to our incredible team and their families, all of our supporters, and stay tuned for updates over the next few weeks. We’ll be back to the pad before you know it!Chris and Adam
Preliminary data review indicates the rocket performed very well. Early in the flight, our guidance system appears to have introduced some slight oscillation into the flight, causing the vehicle to drift from its planned trajectory leading to a commanded shutdown of the engines by the flight safety system.
Here's a much closer video of the flight, showing much better details of the flight, well worth a watch (if it did terminate then they'd better work on the self-destruct systems BTW)https://twitter.com/ThomasPRupp/status/1304686594411167745This twitter post links to a video on facebook which is here:https://www.facebook.com/ewvandongen/videos/10100980788269883/?extid=3k707T0fk6ZPlc1G&d=nI'm including both depending on your social media preference.
Did it....start flipping right after shutdown? Certainly seemed to be in a flat spin on the way down.
twitter.com/GeoffdBarrett/status/1304636125471019008Reportedly sourced from Facebook.
Apparently this was not an orbital attempt:twitter.com/planet4589/status/1304623025858453506QuoteFailed to reach orbit; failed during first stage burn. This was @Astra's first orbital launch attempt - better luck next time.https://twitter.com/wikkit/status/1304667330878865408QuoteI'm old fashioned and think that to call something an orbital attempt it would need to be capable of making orbit.
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 09/12/2020 06:55 amApparently this was not an orbital attempt:twitter.com/planet4589/status/1304623025858453506QuoteFailed to reach orbit; failed during first stage burn. This was @Astra's first orbital launch attempt - better luck next time.https://twitter.com/wikkit/status/1304667330878865408QuoteI'm old fashioned and think that to call something an orbital attempt it would need to be capable of making orbit.The blog post specifically says it was an orbital launch attempt.
Not every rocket has explosive self-destruct.Several of the small rocket companies are simply going with thrust termination. I think Rocketlab does it too. Virgin Orbit does.And Astra is also using electric pumps on their engines. That should make reliable thrust termination quite easy.
Quote from: Bananas_on_Mars on 09/12/2020 10:43 amNot every rocket has explosive self-destruct.Several of the small rocket companies are simply going with thrust termination. I think Rocketlab does it too. Virgin Orbit does.And Astra is also using electric pumps on their engines. That should make reliable thrust termination quite easy. Coming down on water is one thing. There's going to be some serious unhappiness about bombing Kodiak.
Quote from: Nomadd on 09/12/2020 01:35 pmQuote from: Bananas_on_Mars on 09/12/2020 10:43 amNot every rocket has explosive self-destruct.Several of the small rocket companies are simply going with thrust termination. I think Rocketlab does it too. Virgin Orbit does.And Astra is also using electric pumps on their engines. That should make reliable thrust termination quite easy. Coming down on water is one thing. There's going to be some serious unhappiness about bombing Kodiak. But why? I can't understand them not implementing an FTS in the vehicle.
Pilot-induced oscillations, as defined by MIL-HDBK-1797A,[1] are sustained or uncontrollable oscillations resulting from efforts of the pilot to control the aircraft and occurs when the pilot of an aircraft inadvertently commands an often increasing series of corrections in opposite directions, each an attempt to cover the aircraft's reaction to the previous input with an over correction in the opposite direction. An aircraft in such a condition can appear to be "porpoising" switching between upward and downward directions. As such it is a coupling of the frequency of the pilot's inputs and the aircraft's own frequency. During flight test, pilot-induced oscillation is one of the handling qualities factors that is analyzed, with the aircraft being graded by an established scale (chart at right). In order to avoid any assumption that oscillation is necessarily the fault of the pilot, new terms have been suggested to replace pilot-induced oscillation. These include aircraft-pilot coupling, pilot–in-the-loop oscillations and pilot-assisted (or augmented) oscillations.[2]
