Astra Put Something Into Space Today
A quick video recap of our 8.5-minute flight to space today! pic.twitter.com/gvElF4fbAZ
— Astra (@Astra) December 16, 2020
A quick video recap of our 8.5-minute flight to space today! pic.twitter.com/gvElF4fbAZ
— Astra (@Astra) December 16, 2020
Looks like they launch at the edge of their parking lot.
AIUI all the pad infrastructure for the Astra Rocket could be packed in standard cargo containers haul by semis.
This is old school launch pad. Like the road mobile A4 rocket from a bare pad (basically open field) in WWII.
Another article on the subject put it at four shipping containers, a five-person team, and a week to set up.
What’s the payload on that thing? Can’t be much.
Astra tends to be very closed mouth. A few years ago, virtually no one knew they existed. Until someone saw them moving a rocket around in Alameda, California. Then the local press got interested, and when called, Astra answered the phone by saying “Stealth Space, what can we do for you?” and generally answering questions with a “no comment.” So everything about their Rocket 3.3’s performance is speculation. But the best guess for the payload to orbit seems to be around 100 to 150 kg.
I was thinking the same thing. Looks like they rolled it out of the warehouse about 100 feet to a launch pad.
I hear they missed orbit by an eyelash.
Good for them, they’ll get it next time ???
Are those fuel tanks just a few short meters from the launch site?