Author Topic: Pad Failure: Astra Rocket 3.0 "1 of 3" – Kodiak LC-3B – March 23, 2020  (Read 9196 times)

Offline PM3

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This thread is only about the Astra maiden launch. For general Astra topics, please refer to the Astra thread.

This will be the second launch attempt for the same rocket, after the DARPA Challenge launch #1 has been scrubbed due to an off-nominal sensor reading. Astra estimates that it takes 1-2 weeks to fix that; the launch then would take place around March 9 to 16. It will carry some TBA commercial payload (payload is being swapped between launch attempts).

There will be a webcast again.  8)

Two more launches of the same v3.0-type rocket will follow, making a campaign of three. The goal is that at least one of these launches succeeds. Thereafter Astra wants to move on to Rocket v4, which doubles payload capacity from 25 to 50 kg SSO.

The photos show Rocket "1 of 3" on pad 3B on February 26.
« Last Edit: 04/05/2020 05:24 pm by PM3 »
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Re: Astra Rocket 3.0 "1 of 3" – Kodiak LC-3B – March 2020
« Reply #2 on: 03/10/2020 03:11 pm »
https://twitter.com/launchstuff/status/1237407967646973953

Quote
Possible launch window for Astra Rocket 3.0

23-27 March with daily windows 1930-2300 UTC

(3rd img = previous zone in lime compared to new in yellow.)

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

I assume that the above date won't hold, but is the air space closures listed above still in place?
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Offline input~2

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I assume that the above date won't hold, but is the air space closures listed above still in place?
The air space closures listed above have been replaced by these ones which are still in place at this time


FDC 0/6116 (A0200/20) - AK..AIRSPACE KODIAK, AK..TEMPORARY FLIGHT
RESTRICTIONS PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.143
TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT WI AREA DEFINED AS
571207.93N/1520417.42W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK153035.5) TO
571001.53N/1522347.30W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK169036.6) TO
570559.38N/1523142.20W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK175041.1) TO
565836.34N/1524017.62W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK179049.2) TO
565510.28N/1525520.46W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK186054. TO
564852.73N/1530739.29W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK190063.2) TO
573153.00N/1524218.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK205018. TO
573451.00N/1523647.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK203014.6) TO
573836.00N/1522521.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK185008.4) TO
573555.00N/1520604.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK130013.1) TO
572931.00N/1515852.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK132020.6) TO
571836.00N/1515217.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK138031. BACK TO

POINT OF ORIGIN. SFC-FL600 DUE TO ROCKET LAUNCH ACTIVITY.
ANCHORAGE /ZAN/ ARTCC TELEPHONE 907-269-1103 IS THE FAA
CDN FACILITY. 24 MAR 19:30 2020 UNTIL 24 MAR 23:00 2020. CREATED: 11 MAR 20:49 2020


FDC 0/6117 (A0201/20) - AK..AIRSPACE KODIAK, AK..TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.143
TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT WI AREA DEFINED AS
571207.93N/1520417.42W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK153035.5) TO
571001.53N/1522347.30W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK169036.6) TO
570559.38N/1523142.20W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK175041.1) TO
565836.34N/1524017.62W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK179049.2) TO
565510.28N/1525520.46W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK186054. TO
564852.73N/1530739.29W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK190063.2) TO
573153.00N/1524218.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK205018. TO
573451.00N/1523647.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK203014.6) TO
573836.00N/1522521.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK185008.4) TO
573555.00N/1520604.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK130013.1) TO
572931.00N/1515852.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK132020.6) TO
571836.00N/1515217.00W (KODIAK VOR/DME ODK138031. BACK TO

POINT OF ORIGIN. SFC-FL600 DUE TO ROCKET LAUNCH ACTIVITY.
ANCHORAGE /ZAN/ ARTCC TELEPHONE 907-269-1103 IS THE FAA
CDN FACILITY. 25 MAR 19:30 2020 UNTIL 25 MAR 23:00 2020. CREATED: 11 MAR 20:50 2020

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Rocket Lab launch preparations continue despite coronavirus travel restrictions, dated March 20

The status of Astra Rocket 3.0 "1 of 3" remains uncertain.
Quote
“Since the second launch campaign of the DARPA Launch Challenge did not materialize, Astra has requested to conduct the same flight without DARPA sponsorship within the requested March window,” a memo from the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, which operates the launch site, states. That memo is included in a U.S. Coast Guard “Local Notice to Mariners” report published March 18.
<snip>
Astra has not commented on its launch plans publicly, and the company did not respond to requests for comment March 19.

California's travel restrictions may complicate Astra’s plans.

Re: California Gov. Newsom's March 19 order:
Quote
...does allow work to continue at companies considered part of “federal critical infrastructure sectors.” One of those sectors, “critical manufacturing,” includes aerospace products and parts manufacturing.

The payload is still unidentified.
***

EDIT/ADD cross-post:
https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/03/21/astra-readies-for-possible-launch-attempt-next-week/
Quote
Chris Kemp, Astra’s co-founder and CEO, said in an email Friday to Spaceflight Now that Astra is not planning to launch Monday [March 23], but the company is “working towards a possible launch attempt later in the week” from the Pacific Spaceport Complex at Kodiak Island, Alaska.
« Last Edit: 03/22/2020 07:46 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline Michael Baylor

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KMXT: “Anomaly” at Pacific Spaceport Complex launch rehearsal, no injuries as a result
Quote
The Pacific Spaceport Complex reported an “anomaly” on a launch pad during a rocket launch dress rehearsal on Monday. The anomaly did not result in any injuries, according to Alaska Aerospace CEO Mark Lester.
...
At 5 p.m. Lester said the emergency response had concluded. “The area is still hazardous and should be avoided. There will be personnel on site overnight to monitor,” he said.

Offline QuantumG

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Sounds like an upper stage issue.

Human spaceflight is basically just LARPing now.

Offline whitelancer64

Quote
In an email late March 23, Chris Kemp, chief executive of Astra, said the rocket had been damaged in prelaunch testing earlier in the day. “We’ll be rescheduling launch,” he said, but had not selected a new launch date. He did not elaborate on the damage the rocket sustained.

https://spacenews.com/astra-rocket-damaged-in-pre-launch-tests/
« Last Edit: 03/24/2020 04:02 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline TrevorMonty

Between these setbacks and Corona virus shutdown their cash reserves will be taking a hit.

Offline PM3

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Re: Astra Rocket 3.0 "1 of 3" – Kodiak LC-3B – 2020
« Reply #11 on: 03/26/2020 06:43 am »
Between these setbacks and Corona virus shutdown their cash reserves will be taking a hit.

They are not shut down, and the next rocket should be completed by now. Setbacks were expected. (The goal is that one of the first three rockets makes it to orbit.) It now depends on how fast they can fix the issue.
« Last Edit: 03/26/2020 11:20 am by PM3 »
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Offline Ronsmytheiii

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Re: Astra Rocket 3.0 "1 of 3" – Kodiak LC-3B – 2020
« Reply #12 on: 03/28/2020 11:20 pm »
I think I found their pad, it would be the center square on the satellite image below. It wasnt constructed last year, hence why I think that is the location:

Taken from Sentinel-2 Imagery on March 23:

https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/

Offline anik

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« Last Edit: 03/29/2020 04:21 am by anik »

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Re: Astra Rocket 3.0 "1 of 3" – Kodiak LC-3B – 2020
« Reply #14 on: 04/01/2020 01:33 pm »
Looking at the satellite imagery it looks like the anomaly was a pretty be oopsie.  There's a large amount of scarring around the pad that wasn't there before 1:40 PM March 23 Alaska time.  Sentinel-2 L1C false color (near IR, red, green)
The scarring is also visible in true color but the contrast between the paved surface and the scarring is more apparent in false color.

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Offline tehwkd

Re: Astra Rocket 3.0 "1 of 3" – Kodiak LC-3B – 2020
« Reply #15 on: 04/05/2020 02:31 pm »
Quote
The company also recently lost one of its rockets in a fire during testing, the person said, with Astra not expecting to attempt another launch for a few months.




https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/05/rocket-startup-astra-trims-staff-to-survive-pandemic-until-next-year.html
« Last Edit: 04/05/2020 02:32 pm by tehwkd »
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