. 24/7 Space News .
ROCKET SCIENCE
Astra aborts small-rocket launch for Space Force from Alaska
by Paul Brinkmann
Washington DC (UPI) Aug 27, 2021

file image only

California-based Astra Space, a relatively new rocket company, aborted the launch of its first payload, an experiment for the U.S. Space Force, from Alaska on Friday.

The company did not explain immediately the reason for the abort at 5:45 p.m. EDT on a livestream provided by space media publication NASAspaceflight.com.

The launch window stretches to Sept. 11 at the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island, about 400 miles south of Anchorage.

"We are going to stand down today to troubleshoot the abort," a company official said on the livestream. "There's plenty of time for us to try again."

The Space Force awarded Astra a contract, announced Aug. 9, for the launch as part of a program designed to foster more launch companies' space activities. The company plans one more launch for the Space Force by the end of the year.

"We need this ... contract to continue to introduce speed, agility and flexibility into the launch enterprise and continue to cultivate a resilient and affordable launch market." Lt. Col. Justin Beltz, chief of Launch Enterprise's Small Launch and Targets division, said in a news release.

The launch, the company's third, will use Astra's Rocket 3.3.

The new version of the rocket can carry more fuel and go farther than the last rocket that was launched in December.

The company, which is publicly traded, acknowledged during an Aug. 12 teleconference that making such changes comes with risk.

"Maximizing our learning requires us to make advances and take appropriate technical risks," Astra founder and CEO Chris Kemp said during the call. Kemp is a former NASA chief technology officer.

The company didn't release details about the payload, except to say that it will contain sensors that will monitor conditions during launch for future Space Force missions.

Astra's rocket is relatively small at just over 38 feet, compared to SpaceX's Falcon 9, which is more than 229 feet high. The Electron rocket used by small launch company Rocket Lab is 56 feet high.


Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


ROCKET SCIENCE
Gilmour Space signs first European partnership agreement with Exolaunch
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Aug 24, 2021
Gilmour Space Technologies, a premier Australian rocket company pioneering new and innovative hybrid propulsion technologies for launching small satellites, and Exolaunch, a Berlin-based leader in rideshare launch and deployment services for small satellites, has announced a series of agreements for small satellite launch, deployment and in-space transportation services. Under the agreements, the companies will join forces to provide tailored launch, precise deployment and in-space transportation ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

ROCKET SCIENCE
Samsung announces $205 billion investment plan

Can devices that never wear out come into reality?

Roscosmos planning to send another two space tourists into orbit

NASA faces new criticism, possible congressional hearing over spacesuit delays

ROCKET SCIENCE
Unveiling vehicles and technologies for future space transportation

Astra aborts small-rocket launch for Space Force from Alaska

Altius Space Machines to support of Eta Space and NASA's LOXSAT Cryogenic Fluid Management Mission

Astra rocket fails after liftoff from Alaska

ROCKET SCIENCE
China's rover travels over 1 km on Mars

Martian snow is dusty, could potentially melt, new study shows

Blue and Gold satellites headed to Mars in 2024

Curiosity Mars Rover explores a changing landscape

ROCKET SCIENCE
Chinese astronauts out of spacecraft for second time EVA

China's astronauts make spacewalk to upgrade robotic arm

Chinese astronauts to conduct extravehicular activities for second time

Mars mission outcomes to advance space research

ROCKET SCIENCE
OneWeb confirms another successful launch, accelerating business momentum

Russia's Soyuz Spacecraft Launches 34 New OneWeb Satellites Into Orbit

Soyuz launches 34 UK OneWeb satellites

Phantom Space acquires Micro Aerospace Solutions

ROCKET SCIENCE
Marines 3D-print headcap for mine clearing line charge

KyotoU to test slats of wood aboard Japan's Kibo platform on the ISS

Frontier Development Lab transforms space and earth science for NASA with Google Cloud

Global sand and gravel extraction conflicts with half of UN Sustainable Development Goals

ROCKET SCIENCE
Did nature or nurture shape the Milky Way's most common planets

New ESO observations show rocky exoplanet has just half the mass of Venus

Small force, big effect: How the planets could influence the sun

Astronomers find evidence of possible life-sustaining planet

ROCKET SCIENCE
A few steps closer to Europa: spacecraft hardware makes headway

Juno joins Japan's Hisaki satellite and Keck Observatory to solve "energy crisis" on Jupiter

Hubble finds first evidence of water vapor on Ganymede

NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for the Europa Clipper Mission









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.