Astra Space is developing pump-fed, liquid bipropellant propulsion engines for DARPA and NASA.
The current vehicle, Rocket 3.0, is designed to have a payload capacity of approximately 100 kg to low earth orbit. The first Rocket 3.0 vehicle has completed a static fire test at Atwater. It is planned to launch from Alaska and reach orbit between 25 February 2020 and April 2020.
Astra is now the only competitor for the DARPA rapid launch project. One competitor withdrew and another went bankrupt.
Astra is currently offering dedicated launch services of 50kg-150kg payloads (to 500km SSO reference orbit) in 2020 and 2021.
The whole system fits inside a shipping container.
SOURCES – Astra Space, Scott Manley
Written By Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.
There is absolutely no information regarding how much they’ll charge to send 50–150 kg to SSO, is there? For now, I don’t know whether these guys will be relevant or just a sideshow.
Seems to be an effective way to have “hidden” and mobile rockets to potentially put replacement communications satellites into orbit in the event of a large-scale war with a near-pier power.