This mission includes a payload for NearSpace Launch, the S4 CROSSOVER, and Portland State Aerospace Society’s OreSat0.
Any idea of payloads?
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 01/27/2022 04:28 pmSFN Launch Schedule, updated January 27:Astra LV0008 launch delayed to February.This will probably push the LV0009 launch back a few more days, perhaps to March, unless they already have a large enough team to support two launches at different sites in a short period of time.
SFN Launch Schedule, updated January 27:Astra LV0008 launch delayed to February.
The PSCA notice of this launch in this week's USCG District 5 Local Notice to Mariners has been updated.The launch period has been pushed back eight days.Primary Day = Monday, February 28 2022 at 14:30-15:30 UTC (05:30-06:30 AKST).Backup Days = March 1 to March 7 at the same time.
Quote from: Ken the Bin on 02/10/2022 01:49 pmThe PSCA notice of this launch in this week's USCG District 5 Local Notice to Mariners has been updated.The launch period has been pushed back eight days.Primary Day = Monday, February 28 2022 at 14:30-15:30 UTC (05:30-06:30 AKST).Backup Days = March 1 to March 7 at the same time.Do we still have this restriction active? Until Astra completes the research we will not have this launch
Quote from: Conexion Espacial on 02/12/2022 04:00 pmQuote from: Ken the Bin on 02/10/2022 01:49 pmThe PSCA notice of this launch in this week's USCG District 5 Local Notice to Mariners has been updated.The launch period has been pushed back eight days.Primary Day = Monday, February 28 2022 at 14:30-15:30 UTC (05:30-06:30 AKST).Backup Days = March 1 to March 7 at the same time.Do we still have this restriction active? Until Astra completes the research we will not have this launchThe USCG LNM's only come out once per week. We'll have to see what's in the next one.The embedded notice might still be there, seeing how as PSCA has not yet removed the launch from the Integrated Range Schedule on their website. But even if it is, I would not consider that as any kind of sign that the launch has any chance of taking place as scheduled.
We will share more about what we have uncovered when our investigation with the FAA is complete. Following that, we expect a safe return to launch.
https://twitter.com/wikkit/status/1499814890244034564
Destination Kodiak?Quote from: Conexion Espacial on 03/04/2022 07:08 pmhttps://twitter.com/wikkit/status/1499814890244034564
Note: Astra has not yet finalized the LV0008 investigation results with the FAA. The information in this blog post is preliminary until the investigation has been fully closed.
With the root causes identified and corrective measures in place, we’re preparing to return to the launch pad with LV0009 soon — stay tuned!
Why not give Astra its own dedicated forum section? The company has more orbital attempts than Virgin Orbit, which has its own section, etc. - Ed Kyle
Chris Kemp said after his SXSW talk today that Astra is waiting on its FAA license for its next launch from Kodiak. Will be ready to go as soon as FAA issues it.Also, next three Astra launches after the Kodiak launch will be for NASA TROPICS cubesats from the Cape.
I assure you that this is normal for launches from Kodiak and/or Vandenberg.It takes time before a ground station picks up the vehicle’s signal to confirm payload deployment.It could be at T+60 minutes or a bit later.
The ground track visualization did show a deviation towards the East at around T+10 m. Might be paralax, might be insignificant, but could have compromised their velocity target by a bit (again...)?Velocity as separation was 7.6 km/s. Seems orbital for 500 km?
Quote from: eeergo on 03/15/2022 03:46 pmThe ground track visualization did show a deviation towards the East at around T+10 m. Might be paralax, might be insignificant, but could have compromised their velocity target by a bit (again...)?Velocity as separation was 7.6 km/s. Seems orbital for 500 km?I saw that on the screen when the NSF stream's host said the path was "right down the middle". The downlink from stage two looked choppy, but it seemed like there was oscillation of the Earth limb in the image frame. Perhaps that indicates undamped fuel slosh? Perhaps it was nothing. The host of the stream mentioned the rocket had exceeded the view of the ground station, making confirmation of payload release difficult. Anyone know when the next ground station pass will be? One full revolution of the orbit, putting them within view of Kodiak again? Maybe earlier from a second site?
Quote from: ZachS09 on 03/15/2022 03:57 pmI assure you that this is normal for launches from Kodiak and/or Vandenberg.It takes time before a ground station picks up the vehicle’s signal to confirm payload deployment.It could be at T+60 minutes or a bit later.Separation was expected 10s after SECO. They had TM back then.
Some people are saying the payload didn't deploy.
Successful deployment!!
Isn't the S4 CROSSOVER a hosted payload that remain attached to the upper stage?
I don’t get it; if it’s mostly normal for there to be a long gap in telemetry before confirmation of payload deployment, why assume the mission failed?
Were there any issues with the failed Astra launch of last month that Astra had overcome with today's successful launch?
Quote from: Vahe231991 on 03/15/2022 07:04 pmWere there any issues with the failed Astra launch of last month that Astra had overcome with today's successful launch?mainly fairing sep
CelesTrak has a TLE for 1 object from the Astra LV0009 launch (2022-026) atop a Rocket 3.3 from Kodiak Launch Complex on Mar 15 at 1622 UTC: https://nasaspaceflight.com/2022/03/astra-return-to-flight/
And now there are 18 OBJECTS from this launch, Given that the 1 is the rocket, the other 17 should be other satellites.
Quote from: grfredy on 03/17/2022 07:05 amAnd now there are 18 OBJECTS from this launch, Given that the 1 is the rocket, the other 17 should be other satellites.My best guess would be that there are 16 SpaceBEE satellites from Swarm (these are 0.25U cubesats, so that 16 satellites would only take up 4U), which would be a good fit to the small payload capacity of Rocket.https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/spacebee-10.htmNote: this is only speculation!
Quote from: Skyrocket on 03/17/2022 07:28 amQuote from: grfredy on 03/17/2022 07:05 amAnd now there are 18 OBJECTS from this launch, Given that the 1 is the rocket, the other 17 should be other satellites.My best guess would be that there are 16 SpaceBEE satellites from Swarm (these are 0.25U cubesats, so that 16 satellites would only take up 4U), which would be a good fit to the small payload capacity of Rocket.https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/spacebee-10.htmNote: this is only speculation!https://twitter.com/longmier/status/1504499091367026691
Swarm Technologies CTO confirms that 20 SpaceBEE satellites were also on board the Spaceflight Inc Astra-1 mission:
On March 15, 2022, Astra successfully delivered 22 satellites to a circular sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) out of the Astra Spaceport in Kodiak, Alaska. In addition to delivering our first customer satellites to orbit, this mission demonstrated operational progress toward our goal of a daily launch capability that we believe will dramatically improve access to space.
I believe this is the first time Astra mentions that it launched 22 payloads:https://astra.com/news/lv0009-operational-progress/QuoteOn March 15, 2022, Astra successfully delivered 22 satellites to a circular sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) out of the Astra Spaceport in Kodiak, Alaska. In addition to delivering our first customer satellites to orbit, this mission demonstrated operational progress toward our goal of a daily launch capability that we believe will dramatically improve access to space.
S4 Crossover, OreSat0, 16 SpaceBEEs, add up to 18. Do we know what the remaining 4 satellites are?
Do we have any source mentioning 4 SpaceBEE-NZ in addition of the 16 known SpaceBEEs? Looks fishy to me, spacetrack only mentions 20 payloads
It's now clear that the Astra LV0009 mission launched 20 SpaceBEEs, namely SpaceBEE 112 to 127 and New Zealand flagged SpaceBEE NZ-11 to NZ-14. All but two are now ID'd by 18SPCS; no IDs yet for the SpaceBEEs launched on Transporter-4
S4 is currently in orbit and operating under STA 1952-EX-ST-2021. At the time of launch, it was expected that transmission from the S4 would begin operating after second stage engine cutoff, activated by relays on the launch vehicle, and operate until demise, which was expected to occur within a few weeks after launch. However, the deorbit sequence for the Astra second stage, to which the S4 is permanently attached, was not successfully executed. As a result, S4 is expected to remain in orbit for a number of years. This presents an unexpected opportunity for longer term evaluation of the radios on board, as well as collecting radiation and plasma data. This license application is to replace the STA with an experimental license, to support that goal.
