CANCELLED : Astra R3.3 - LV0011 - TROPICS Flight 2 - CCSFS SLC-46

[Conexion Espacial]

This topic is for updates and discussion of this mission.

Astra Rocket 3.3 - LV0011 - TROPICS Flight 2
Launch Date and time: TBD 2022
Payloads: Two TROPICS satellites

A constellation of identical 3U CubeSats provide sounding (left CubeSat has a temperature profile of a simulated Tropical Cyclone (TC) from a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model) and 12-channel radiometric imagery (center CubeSat has simulated radiances from NWP model and radiative transfer model and the near right CubeSat has a single-channel radiance image of a TC) with a median revisit rate approaching 60 minutes to meet state-of-the-art performance.

The Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) mission will provide rapid-refresh microwave measurements over the tropics that can be used to observe the thermodynamics of the troposphere and precipitation structure for storm systems at the mesoscale and synoptic scale over the entire storm lifecycle. TROPICS comprises a constellation of CubeSats in three low-Earth orbital planes. Each CubeSat will host a high-performance radiometer scanning across the satellite track at 30 RPM to provide temperature profiles using seven channels near the 118.75 GHz oxygen absorption line, water vapor profiles using 3 channels near the 183 GHz water vapor absorption line, imagery in a single channel near 90 GHz for precipitation measurements, and a single channel at 205 GHz for cloud ice measurements.

More Information: https://tropics.ll.mit.edu/CMS/tropics/Mission-Overview

[Conexion Espacial]

We know that the investigation of LV0010 is ongoing, but the satellite images show activity in SLC-46, maybe LV0011 is already on the platform.

[Conexion Espacial]

The latest aerial images from NASASpacefligt indicate that there is nothing at SLC-46.

[Zed_Noir]

The latest aerial images from NASASpacefligt indicate that there is nothing at SLC-46.

However Astra can probably set up in 24 hours by staging from somewhere close by in Florida. IIRC everything for the launch was in 3 or 4 semi trailers. The issue that might hold up the launch set up process might be the readiness of the payload.

[zubenelgenubi]

The latest aerial images from NASASpacefligt indicate that there is nothing at SLC-46.

Has there been any pad activity after the June 12 launch failure?  (Other than removal of equipment to arrive at the clean pad seen in the posted image.)

However Astra can probably set up in 24 hours by staging from somewhere close by in Florida. IIRC everything for the launch was in 3 or 4 semi trailers.

True.  The semi trailers could be on-base.

The issue that might hold up the launch set up process might be the readiness of the payload.

Possible, but we have seen no indication of such.  Otherwise, the 6 satellites appear to have been ready for the three quick succession launches.

Astra is still determining why the previous launch failed?  Or now remediating the issues found?  We don't know when in the return to flight process that they stand.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://mobile.twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1554464843993956352

At this morning’s Earth Science Advisory Cmte meeting, NASA’s Karen St. Germain says the agency is working on a plan for launching the four remaining TROPICS cubesats after the first two were lost on an Astra launch in June. “Still excited” about science 4 TROPICS sats can do. [August 2]

Rocket return-to-flight?
Or something else?

[TrevorMonty]

https://mobile.twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1554464843993956352

At this morning’s Earth Science Advisory Cmte meeting, NASA’s Karen St. Germain says the agency is working on a plan for launching the four remaining TROPICS cubesats after the first two were lost on an Astra launch in June. “Still excited” about science 4 TROPICS sats can do. [August 2]

Rocket return-to-flight?
Or something else?

Losing 2 is not unexpected on new LV but can they afford to lose anymore. Maybe case of using more reliable LV for remaining 4.

[ZachS09]

https://mobile.twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1554464843993956352

At this morning’s Earth Science Advisory Cmte meeting, NASA’s Karen St. Germain says the agency is working on a plan for launching the four remaining TROPICS cubesats after the first two were lost on an Astra launch in June. “Still excited” about science 4 TROPICS sats can do. [August 2]

Rocket return-to-flight?
Or something else?

Losing 2 is not unexpected on new LV but can they afford to lose anymore. Maybe case of using more reliable LV for remaining 4.

Electron, maybe? Or LauncherOne?

[Celeste_El]

Kemp just confirmed in their Q2 call that Tropics is being moved to Launch System 2.0 (Rocket 4) and there will no additional commercial launches this year.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-posts

No more Rocket 3.0 launches!

Astra Earnings Statement - https://investor.astra.com/news-releases/news-release-details/astra-announces-second-quarter-2022-financial-results
[August 4]

Astra announces that after two of its four Rocket 3.3 flights were successful, the Company will transition to the next version of its launch system and is working with customers to re-manifest all payloads onto the new launch system, designed for higher capacity, reliability, and production rate.

Wow

Astra's presentation for the Q2 conference call says that the TROPICS-1 mission failure investigation is still ongoing. $ASTR [August 4]

$ASTR CEO Chris Kemp: "We will not have any additional flights in 2022." [August 4]

Astra CEO Chris Kemp said it's not certain that the company will resume commercial launches in 2023. It will depend on how development and testing goes with the next generation launch system [Rocket 4.0]. May be later. [August 4]

[Zed_Noir]

https://mobile.twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1554464843993956352

At this morning’s Earth Science Advisory Cmte meeting, NASA’s Karen St. Germain says the agency is working on a plan for launching the four remaining TROPICS cubesats after the first two were lost on an Astra launch in June. “Still excited” about science 4 TROPICS sats can do. [August 2]

Rocket return-to-flight?
Or something else?

Losing 2 is not unexpected on new LV but can they afford to lose anymore. Maybe case of using more reliable LV for remaining 4.

Electron, maybe? Or LauncherOne?

Just put the remaining 4 TROPICS cubesats on a Falcon 9 along with whatever rideshare that can be mustered to go along. Losing one more TROPICS will drastically reduce the science that can done, since nominally there should be a minimum of 4 TROPICS spacecrafts gathering data. NASA has let Astra Space rolled the dice, who didn't make the saving throw.

[ZachS09]

https://mobile.twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1554464843993956352

At this morning’s Earth Science Advisory Cmte meeting, NASA’s Karen St. Germain says the agency is working on a plan for launching the four remaining TROPICS cubesats after the first two were lost on an Astra launch in June. “Still excited” about science 4 TROPICS sats can do. [August 2]

Rocket return-to-flight?
Or something else?

Losing 2 is not unexpected on new LV but can they afford to lose anymore. Maybe case of using more reliable LV for remaining 4.

Electron, maybe? Or LauncherOne?

Just put the remaining 4 TROPICS cubesats on a Falcon 9 along with whatever rideshare that can be mustered to go along. Losing one more TROPICS will drastically reduce the science that can done, since nominally there should be a minimum of 4 TROPICS spacecrafts gathering data. NASA has let Astra Space rolled the dice, who didn't make the saving throw.

I mentioned that possibility a while ago, and someone said that since TROPICS is not going to a sun-synchronous orbit (TROPICS operates in a 30-degree orbit), a Transporter rideshare is unlikely.

[niwax]

https://mobile.twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1554464843993956352

At this morning’s Earth Science Advisory Cmte meeting, NASA’s Karen St. Germain says the agency is working on a plan for launching the four remaining TROPICS cubesats after the first two were lost on an Astra launch in June. “Still excited” about science 4 TROPICS sats can do. [August 2]

Rocket return-to-flight?
Or something else?

Losing 2 is not unexpected on new LV but can they afford to lose anymore. Maybe case of using more reliable LV for remaining 4.

Electron, maybe? Or LauncherOne?

Just put the remaining 4 TROPICS cubesats on a Falcon 9 along with whatever rideshare that can be mustered to go along. Losing one more TROPICS will drastically reduce the science that can done, since nominally there should be a minimum of 4 TROPICS spacecrafts gathering data. NASA has let Astra Space rolled the dice, who didn't make the saving throw.

I mentioned that possibility a while ago, and someone said that since TROPICS is not going to a sun-synchronous orbit (TROPICS operates in a 30-degree orbit), a Transporter rideshare is unlikely.

It really depends on what they are more likely to budge on, orbit or money. They got the three Astra launches at $2.5 million each, that is not going to happen anywhere else. The other bidders were Starship (est. $5 million/launch) and Electron (est. $7.5 million/launch). If they don't want to drastically increase their budget, almost doubling it for Electron, another option would be to go to ~52° on a Starlink launch or ride along to ISS, but none of those options are great.

[ZachS09]

What are the benefits and disadvantages of TROPICS operating in a 53-degree orbit rather than the original 30-degree orbit?

[Jim]

What are the benefits and disadvantages of TROPICS operating in a 53-degree orbit rather than the original 30-degree orbit?

Less coverage of the tropics

[ZachS09]

What are the benefits and disadvantages of TROPICS operating in a 53-degree orbit rather than the original 30-degree orbit?

Less coverage of the tropics.

That's my point. So, I can't fathom a SpaceX rideshare unless there's a major payload also going to a 30-degree orbit.

[Bananas_on_Mars]

They could rideshare with most GTO launches that use a parking orbit (i think all Falcon 9 missions didn’t do direct insertion so far). Would need a transfer vehicle though, or a light GEO satellite. But minimum inclination out of the cape is already 28.5 degrees.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Does this tweet mean that the mission is not cancelled and that it just moves to Rocket 4.0?

"NASA is an unreal customer. Told Astra it's willing to wait for "launch system 2.0" for the Tropics mission."

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1555293237652475904

[trimeta]

Does this tweet mean that the mission is not cancelled and that it just moves to Rocket 4.0?

"NASA is an unreal customer. Told Astra it's willing to wait for "launch system 2.0" for the Tropics mission."

Is it even the same mission at that point? I figure that once (if) that's announced, a new thread would be created (possibly linking to this one).

[TrevorMonty]

Does this tweet mean that the mission is not cancelled and that it just moves to Rocket 4.0?

"NASA is an unreal customer. Told Astra it's willing to wait for "launch system 2.0" for the Tropics mission."

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1555293237652475904

Assume at same price as Rocket 3.0 in which case Astra will be losing money.