Astra Space’s Rocket Is In Orbit

Astra Space, a California-based aerospace company, conducted a test flight again. Rocket 3.3, serial number LV0007 of the extend company Astra Space, founded by Chris Kemp, was able to enter orbit minutes after a launch on November 20.

Astra’s rocket carried payloads for the Space Test Program under a contract through the US Space Force’s Defense Innovation Unit. This initiative, which took place on November 20, was the company’s fourth attempt.

Astra Space succeeds on fourth attempt

Astra Space’s previous attempts to launch in March, September and December 2020 and in August 2021 had failed due to technical glitches. After flights that did not go as planned for various reasons, the company’s successful flight took place on 20 November.

Astra Space’s first successful flight, which is among the space companies that have successfully reached orbit, was the launch of Launch Vehicle 0007 (LV0007) carrying a test payload for the US military at 01:16 on Saturday at the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska. took place by taking off from In the flight proceeding as planned, Rocket 3. 3.9 minutes later landed in orbit 500 kilometers from Earth.

Test flight of Astra Space:

Astra Space, which managed to reach orbit, joined the space companies Virgin Orbit, SpaceX and Rocket Lab, which managed to reach orbit with a private rocket. The launch of the company’s flight on November 20 was simultaneously broadcast on the YouTube channel NASASpaceflight.

Chris Kemp, CEO of Astra Space, emphasized that after failures, working tirelessly and trying again and again leads to success. Company founder Kemp said in a live broadcast during the launch of the flight, “Our team has worked hard on this issue for many years. We are just getting started, we have rocket series 8, 9 and 10, which we continue to manufacture,” he said. Astra Space Executives announced that they plan to launch the next vehicle, the LV0008, before the end of this year.