Author Topic: FAILURE: Astra Rocket 3.1 - Kodiak - September 12, 2020 (03:19 UTC) (Read 62182 times)

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #120 on:** 09/12/2020 03:16 am »

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35s
T-5 minutes. Final Range is GO!

twitter.com/Astra/status/1304619656829792257

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #121 on:** 09/12/2020 03:19 am »

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42s
T-60 seconds! Rocket is on internal control

twitter.com/Astra/status/1304620520516665349

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #122 on:** 09/12/2020 03:20 am »

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51s
T-0 LIFT OFF!

twitter.com/Astra/status/1304620705422610432

gmbnz · « **Reply #123 on:** 09/12/2020 03:25 am »

I think we're supposed to have had MECO / state separation / S2 ignition.... hopefully I'm just being impatient but the (twitter) silence is ominous...

Edit: but it's still fantastic they got to launch!

Rocketdog2116 · « **Reply #124 on:** 09/12/2020 03:26 am »

Seco will be at +8:51 if we don't hear anything by T+10 minutes we'll know

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #125 on:** 09/12/2020 03:27 am »

Not unexpected, but it didn't make it.

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22s
Successful lift off and fly out, but the flight ended during the first stage burn. It does look like we got a good amount of nominal flight time. More updates to come!

twitter.com/Astra/status/1304622467042820105

Rocketdog2116 · « **Reply #126 on:** 09/12/2020 03:27 am »

RIP Rocket 3.1

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #127 on:** 09/12/2020 03:30 am »

Thanks, Steven, for the live coverage.

And a sincere "Better Luck Next Time" to Astra!

gmbnz · « **Reply #128 on:** 09/12/2020 03:35 am »

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?)

Looking at the positive side:
* They've proven that they're still one of the top two contenders for next company to orbit along with VO
* (presumably) no pad damage this time
* More flight data and operations experience!

I do find it a little concerning that they've launched 3 rockets and are still struggling to get to MECO - on the other hand, maybe this iterative progress is planned. Hopefully this performance is good enough to convince investors to stick with them.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #129 on:** 09/12/2020 03:40 am »

Quote from: gmbnz on 09/12/2020 03:35 am

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?)

Yes, Rocket 3.0 was destroyed on 23 March during a ground accident. Rocket 3.1 is its replacement.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #130 on:** 09/12/2020 03:42 am »

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29s
Great shot of Rocket 3.1 leaving the pad!

twitter.com/Astra/status/1304626075251556353

butters · « **Reply #131 on:** 09/12/2020 03:42 am »

Quote from: gmbnz on 09/12/2020 03:35 am

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?)

That rocket popped open during a fueling test and was damaged beyond repair. Wasn't the first time they spilled a bunch of kerosene on Kodiak Island. This is, of course, the former stealth startup known only by its federally-mandated environmental remediation documents filed following incidents. Hopefully this time the debris made it out to sea.

ShaunML09 · « **Reply #132 on:** 09/12/2020 04:51 am »

Some amateur video of the launch/failure ...who seem strangely eager to help after the rocket explosion

https://twitter.com/CultonJennifer/status/1304626860853141505

su27k · « **Reply #133 on:** 09/12/2020 04:51 am »

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1304627336470384640

Quote

Sorry to hear that. I’m sure you’ll figure it out though. Took us four launches to reach orbit. Rockets are hard.

https://twitter.com/Kemp/status/1304631756683841537

Quote

Thanks Elon! Digging into the data so we can figure this out. Rocket 3.2 is ready to go...

jamesh9000 · « **Reply #134 on:** 09/12/2020 05:03 am »

From the video two posts above, it detonates 9 seconds into the video, and I'd estimate about 15 seconds into flight. I know they weren't expecting to reach orbit, and they'll put a brave face on it, but i'd say they've got to be a bit disappointed with only 15 seconds.

sdsds · « **Reply #135 on:** 09/12/2020 05:18 am »

Does it seem to anyone else like the flight termination system was triggered by ... contact with Earth's surface?

catdlr · « **Reply #136 on:** 09/12/2020 06:16 am »

Quote from: ShaunML09 on 09/12/2020 04:51 am

Some amateur video of the launch/failure ...who seem strangely eager to help after the rocket explosion

I took the video and cropped it. Can't really see the vehicle after engine shutdown but you can see the vehicle for about three seconds before crashing.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #137 on:** 09/12/2020 06:47 am »

Cropped screen grabs. Vehicle flew for at least 10 seconds before losing thrust and crashing back on Earth. The second photo shows the point where thrust has nearly terminated.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #138 on:** 09/12/2020 06:47 am »

twitter.com/astra/status/1304636706784645120

Quote

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

https://twitter.com/peter_j_beck/status/1304668087027867655

Quote

Data in this game is so hard won, so big congratulations to the team for pulling down actual flight data from today’s attempt!

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #139 on:** 09/12/2020 06:50 am »

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2h
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

twitter.com/Astra/status/1304636706784645120