Mission Name

LV0007

Launch Window

November 18-19, 2021

Launch Site

PSCA, Kodiak, Alaska

Launch Vehicle

Rocket 3.3

Target Orbit

500 km, 86°

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.

This mission included a non-deployable Space Force payload and marked Astra's first successful orbital launch, reaching orbit and delivering a test payload with a nominal flight of both first and upper stages.

Mission Timeline

All times are approximate

+0s

Lift-off

+6s

Begin Pitch Over

+1min 10s

Max-Q

+2min 50s

Main Engine Cutoff (MECO)

+2min 55s

Fairing separation

+3min 00s

Stage separation

+3min 05s

Upper stage ignition

+8min 30s

Second Engine Cutoff (SECO)

+8min 40s

Payload Deployment Signal

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.

Overall Length

43 feet

Diameter

52 inches

Specification

First Stage

Upper Stage

Engine Qty

Thrust per Engine

6,500 lbf SL

740 lbf vacuum