Astra Launch Failure Investigation Complete

Astra Details August Launch Failure and Announces New Attempt

Astra, a startup focused on rocket launches, has released further information regarding the unsuccessful mission undertaken in August. During this event, the small launch vehicle exhibited unusual behavior, hovering and drifting before achieving a short period of vertical ascent.

Despite the previous setback, the company is preparing for another launch attempt, with the launch window scheduled to open on October 27.

Fifth Launch Attempt for Astra

This upcoming mission represents the fifth launch endeavor for Astra, which recently became a publicly traded company through a SPAC merger. This merger provided the company with approximately $500 million in capital.

The rocket, designated “LV0007,” will be carrying a test payload commissioned by the U.S. Space Force.

Root Cause of the August Failure

The August 28th flight experienced a failure attributed to a propellant leak. This leak resulted in the shutdown of one of the rocket’s engines, as explained by Astra’s Chief Engineer, Benjamin Lyon, in a blog post.

The rocket did reach an altitude of approximately 30 miles before the launch was intentionally terminated 148 seconds after liftoff. A thorough investigation, conducted in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration, was initiated to determine the cause of the malfunction.

“The encountered issue was unprecedented,” Lyon stated. The leaked propellant became contained between the rocket and the launch platform.

Exhaust from the functioning engines ignited this trapped propellant, leading to a severance of the electronic connections to the fuel pump and subsequent engine shutdown, occurring less than a second after launch.

Corrective Measures Implemented

Lyon confirmed that the company has implemented several modifications to prevent a recurrence of these issues during the next test flight.

These changes include adjustments to the rocket-to-launcher interface, designed to prevent the mixing of propellants even in the event of leaks. Astra has also refined the propellant supply mechanism and enhanced verification procedures.

“We believe these combined changes substantially decrease the probability of a similar incident occurring in the future,” Lyon added.

Launch Details for LV0007

LV0007 is scheduled to launch from Astra’s facility in Kodiak, Alaska. The primary launch window extends from October 27 to October 31.

A secondary backup launch window is available from November 5 to November 12.

Learning from Previous Flight Data

“The data gathered from the two-and-a-half-minute flight provided valuable insights that have been integrated into LV0007 and subsequent launch vehicles,” stated Astra CEO Chris Kemp.

“Our team is eager to resume flight operations and continue learning about our launch system, aligning with our ‘launch and learn’ philosophy.”