Astra Space Is Getting Closer To The First Launch of Rocket 4

Astra Space is trying to turn things around and produce a new and improved launch vehicle. After quite a few failed launches with the Rocket 3 line, they made the decision to stop launching and move on to Rocket 4. Not to mention an additional shift in the entire launch process with new goals, ways of approaching small launches, and speed, just to name a few.

Just in the last couple of weeks, the company has announced even more updates on both the future launch vehicle and its spacecraft engine technology. An aspect of Astra Space that is becoming much more important without any launches available. These updates included more information on the welding process and more infrastructure for various spacecraft technology.

While Astra Space has had a bit of a rough last few years, they are confident that they have learned from their mistakes and will come back much stronger in 2023. However, before this becomes a reality they have a lot of work to do starting with getting Rocket 4 ready for testing. Here I will go more in-depth into the company’s recent welding and spacecraft engine update, its plan for the future, what to expect in the coming months, and more.

Credit:

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:57 - Recent Updates
3:46 - Launch System 2.0

[patricklewis]

I anticipate considerable industry consolidation and would not be surprised to see Astra, Firefly, and someplace like Spaceflight Industries merging to stay alive.

[Stabby]

Thanks for the Astra updates. I just subscribed to you and stopped looking on Twitter and other platforms for updates

[planetxentauri]

Don’t sleep on Astra remember they signed with the space force that’s an unlimited budget

[michaelreid]

Over 1, 000 psi chamber pressure? That sounds pretty amazing.

[doolittlegeorge]

*"fits in a 53 foot container thus can be shipped and launched from anywhere to anywhere"* is a great selling point not made here verbally but certainly present/visible. Great news for the New Mexico Spaceport which is already servicing one unique form of Space Launch and indeed Flight would be an understatement. Not impressed by Space Shuttle 2.0 which still has yet to *"be brought aloft"* but certainly the US Air Force has been active with s Space Plane going on ever since the entire Space Shuttle Program was wound down now near decades ago.

No small miracle that NASA has made in orbit around Earth's Moon would appear with successful retrieval back here upon Earth.

[christopherbeddoe]

I hope they get it down.
Space is hard.
I can't imagine being a publicly traded startup essentially trying to successfully deliver satellites to orbit.

[johnmoruzzi]

I wonder if they are integrating the long-delayed NASA AFTS system that is about to fly with Rocket Lab at Wallops ?

[martythemartian]

Any chance you could catch us up on progress of the VASIMR ion engine from Ad Astra? (different company from Astra.)

[marvinegreen]

SpaceX is pursuing reusability; Relativity is pursuing 3D printing/automated low cost production; Rocket lab, reusability. I don't understand Astra's plan to address what nitch in what market? My only clues are they are using aluminum (Not pursuing reusability) and they are launching from Alaska (earth observation, signal intelligence?) using government (DoD) equipment and facilities (DoD funding for quick reaction recursive battlefield assessments?). Somebody, explain it to me.

[soapbar]

I think we will all be shocked if this company has any success

[jdotsystem]

Not technology about any rocket engine for spacecraft

[thomasheberling]

They have already had to forfeit launches to Rocket Lab. They never perfected their previous rockets so I doubt they're building anything based on success

[commentguy]

too bad they can't launch their share price above 1$. Kemp using shares to buy leather jackets instead.