This launch will be the 3rd for Astra, following 2 flights from the PSCA in July and November 2018, respectively. Astra specified that the first (designated Rocket 1.0) was successful, and that the 2nd (Rocket 2.0) was “shorter than prepared”.
In September 2019, Vector revealed their withdrawal from the DARPA Launch Challenge after losing significant moneying the month previously, thereby leaving 2 companies left to compete for the financial rewards. Virgin Orbit dropped out the following month, so as to move their focus towards bringing their LauncherOne into operation.
Rocket 3.1 features five very first phase engines, which have been named “Delphin” (a dolphin-like Greek sea divine being). The engines are set up in a pentagon pattern, which varies from other five-engine arrangements. Significantly, the 5 engines on the second and very first phases of the leviathan Saturn V Moon rocket were organized in a “quincunx”, or cross formation.
This mission will function as the first iterative attempt for the California-based business to reach orbit. As such, Astra has actually stated that the result of the objective will be identified by the performance of the very first stage, with overall success being specified as a nominal, full-duration burn.
As soon as there, the rocket was unpacked and integrated onto its launch install. The business successfully finished a Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) with Rocket 3.1 on the pad on July 31, so regarding effectively run through the pre-launch countdown and fueling treatments.
Astra performed 2 successful static fire tests– fast shootings of a rockets engines with the intention of screening engine efficiency prior to flight– with the Rocket 3.1 automobile in mid-July 2020. The rocket was consequently shipped to the PSCA in Alaska for last launch preparations soon after.
This left Astra as the sole candidate in the Launch Challenge, and allowed the company to prepare for their first launch without the danger of competition for the grand reward.
Congratulations to the DARPA Launch Challenge competitors! Get prepared to launch: 2020.
— DARPA (@DARPA) April 10, 2019
In early 2020, Astra went public with their efforts, and subsequently launched information about their operations.
The Delphin engines are powered by electrically-driven turbopumps, similar to the Rutherford engines that are produced by Rocket Lab to power their Electron rocket.
Rocket 1.0 performing a static fire test at Astras head office in Alameda– credit: Astra
In June 2020, the business announced that they would go back to the PSCA for another launch effort, with the opening of the window initially set to take place on July 20 before being rescheduled for August 2.
Astra rolled their Rocket 3.0 car to their custom-built launch pad at the PSCA in Alaska in mid-February 2020 ahead of the very first orbital launch of the DARPA Launch Challenge, which was arranged to take place anywhere from late February to early March. However, a series of hold-ups triggered the launch to slip to the final day of the launch window, ultimately culminating in a scrub at T-53 seconds on March 2 due to a ground support devices (GSE) concern.
According to Adam London, the co-founder of Astra and the businesss primary technology officer (CTO), Rocket 3.1 will not be bring any payloads inside its fairing in order to increase efficiency margins on the vehicle.
Astra has over a dozen launch agreements signed, however it is presently unknown regarding when– or wherefrom– they will introduce.
The Alameda, California-based business was previously notorious for operating in nearly complete secrecy, as really little was learnt about their lorries, screening projects, and launch efforts. The only public sighting of an Astra rocket– which, coincidentally, was Rocket 1.0– was by a news helicopter in early 2018 at the previous Naval Air Station Alameda.
The Pacific Spaceport Complex, located in Kodiak, Alaska, is preparing to support the launch of Astras first orbital test flight, including the businesss Rocket 3.1 launcher. Teams are presently carrying out final preparations ahead of the opening of the two hour launch window, which is presently set to open at 7:00 pm Pacific time on August 2 (10:00 pm Eastern; 02:00 UTC on August 3). Upper Level winds are currently pressing the T-0 deeper into the window.
This was done ahead of their very first planned launch for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agencys (DARPA) Launch Challenge, in which 3 aerospace companies– Astra, Vector Space Systems, and Virgin Orbit– were chosen in March 2019 to demonstrate rapid launch abilities by releasing 2 missions to low Earth orbit from different launch websites.
The service provider that would have finished the first flight effectively would have received a $2 million prize from DARPA, and would have been qualified to perform a second successful launch for the firm in exchange for another $10 million grand reward.
Vector Space Systems entered their Vector-R rocket into the competition, while Virgin Orbit submitter their air-launched LauncherOne. Astra entered their Rocket 3.0, which can delivering a 150 kilogram (330 pound) payload to a 500 kilometer (310.6 mile) Sun-synchronous orbit.
In addition to Kodiak, Astra prepares to trigger a second launch site situated in the Marshall Islands. This will enable the company to reach low-inclination orbits, thereby enabling more flexibility for clients who are looking for affordable transport to LEO.
This will be the very first flight of Astras new “Rocket 3.1”, which allegedly features incremental design enhancements over the previous models in the Rocket series. The lorry is a two-stage rocket, with the first phase being sustained by RP-1 (a highly-refined form of kerosene) and liquid oxygen, or LOX.
https://t.co/bhDhTACkch
— Astra (@Astra) June 16, 2020
Soon after completing a fueling test ahead of launch in March 2020, an anomaly occurred on the pad, leading to the loss of the automobile. According to Astra CEO Chris Kemp, a valve had actually stuck open throughout detanking, which led to an over-pressurization occasion. No personnel were damaged as a result of the anomaly.
Introduce scrubbed for today. Out of our dedication to security, and to increase the likelihood of general success of the three-launch campaign, we have decided to focus on totally investigating the problem over trying to win the DARPA difficulty today: https://t.co/JtcQ8Dsqhe
— Astra (@Astra) March 2, 2020
Astra is currently targeting the opening of the five-day window for the launch of Rocket 3.1, with T-0 set up for 7:00 pm Pacific time on Sunday, August 2 (02:00 UTC on Monday, August 3). The day-to-day launch windows will remain open for two hours each day.
State hi to Rocket 3.1, our orbital launch car that just passed its 2nd fixed hotfire test with flying colors. Having finished screening, Rocket 3.1 is now evacuated and on its method to Kodiak, Alaska for our very first orbital launch effort!
— Astra (@Astra) July 16, 2020
As Astra had actually run out of available time in the launch window for the first flight of the Launch Challenge, they were not eligible for the prizes put out by DARPA. The company made efforts to return to the launch pad and perform the flight regardless, sans the payloads that DARPA had actually manifested for the competition.
Like its predecessor, Rocket 3.1 was designed with simplicity and mobility in mind. The simpleness originates from the construction of the rockets aluminum fuel tanks, which lowers expense and streamlines the production process. The mobility aspect is shown in the rockets size, as it can be quickly loaded into a basic shipping container for transport to the launch site.
For the initial launches of Rocket lorries, Astra will introduce out of the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska. From there, the company will be able to reach polar and Sun-synchronous orbits.
Astras “Rocket 3.0” vertical on the launch pad at the Pacific Spaceport Complex– credit: DARPA
The Pacific Spaceport Complex, located in Kodiak, Alaska, is preparing to support the launch of Astras first orbital test flight, featuring the businesss Rocket 3.1 launcher. Groups are currently performing last preparations ahead of the opening of the two hour launch window, which is currently set to open at 7:00 pm Pacific time on August 2 (10:00 pm Eastern; 02:00 UTC on August 3). Congratulations to the DARPA Launch Challenge rivals! Shortly after finishing a fueling test ahead of launch in March 2020, an anomaly took place on the pad, leading to the loss of the automobile. The portability element is shown in the rockets size, as it can be easily packed into a standard shipping container for transport to the launch site.
