Astra's 1st orbital test launch fails during first-stage engine burn
By Mike Wall
First Published 3 hours ago
But Astra wasn't expecting perfection.
Astra's Rocket 3.1 rises into the sky above Alaska's Pacific Spaceport Complex during the company's first orbital launch attempt on Sept. 11, 2020. The flight ended during the first-stage engine burn. (Image credit: Astra/John Kraus)
Astra's first orbital mission got off the ground, but it soon came back down again.
The California-based spaceflight startup launched its first orbital test flight tonight (Sept. 11), sending its two-stage Rocket 3.1 skyward from the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska at 11:20 p.m. EDT (7:20 p.m. local Alaska time and 0320 GMT on Sept. 12).
The 38-foot-tall (12 meters) booster, which was carrying no payloads, didn't make it all the way to the final frontier.
"Successful lift off and fly out, but the flight ended during the first-stage burn. It does look like we got a good amount of nominal flight time. More updates to come!" Astra t
weeted tonight.