Mission Overview
Space Force contracted this launch through the Defense Innovation Unit's Other Transaction Agreement with Astra. Space Force launched a test payload for the Space Test Program (STP-27AD1).
This mission included a non-deployable Space Force payload. On August 28, 2021, Rocket 3.3's inaugural flight successfully recovered from a single engine shutdown before being incorrectly terminated by the Safety Officer.
Mission Timeline
All times are approximate
About Vehicle
Astra has developed one of the world's most responsive and affordable orbital launch systems. Rocket 3.3 is an expendable, vertically-launched two stage LOX/kerosene rocket, designed to fit inside a standard shipping container and built to dramatically lower the cost of access to space.
Rocket 3.3 consists of a first stage powered by five electric-pump-fed engines and an upper stage propelled by a single pressure-fed Aether engine.