Vyacheslav Yermolin, March 15, 2022

Mission:

Successful launch of ASTRA Rocket 3.3 ultralight launch vehicle. Three payloads were placed into sun-synchronous orbit. The main payload is the new S4 Crossover satellite platform, which is attached to the second stage. Additionally, two CubSat format nanosatellites.

Link to high quality image.

Motto:

"Unexpectedly successful." There is no official motto.

Start time and place:

March 15, 2022 - 16:22 UTC

Launch pad LP-3B at the Kodiak launch site, Alaska, USA.

Launch vehicle:

Rocket 3 is a two-stage ultra-light launch vehicle for launching small loads from the private company Astra. Load capacity up to 600 kg for LEO and 335 kg for MTR. Low price, high manufacturability and ease of preparation for launch. Fits in a standard container.

Payload:

Three small research satellites in the CubeSat format.

Orbit:

MTR: 471 X 537 km. Orbital inclination 97.49°.

Interesting:

- 27th orbital launch attempt in 2022. One accident.

— 6th attempt to launch Astra Rocket 3.*. Score 2:4 (success:failure).

— The launch cost is about $2.5 million.

Link to high quality image

Article from the NSF portal

Personal opinion:

Successful launch. We need a couple more of these, then there will be at least some confidence in the prospects of the company.

The stock market instantly reacts to the launch of a rocket - the company is public and traded on the stock exchange. The course follows all events during the withdrawal phase. Interestingly, the stock did not rise higher after the success of the launch. Those who remained in the papers breathed a sigh of relief - "swept through." But in a moment of uncertainty (see trading volume), people rushed to merge shares at the lows. It is worth recalling that the shares were sold at the time of the placement at $10 per share, now the rate is $3.6 per share - and this is one of the “successful” Newspace companies.

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