Mission Name

NASA TROPICS-1

Launch Window

June 12, 2022

Launch Site

SLC-46, Cape Canaveral

Launch Vehicle

Rocket 3.3

Target Orbit

550 km, 29.75°

Mission Overview

Astra's objective was to successfully launch and deploy 2 TROPICS 3U CubeSats as part of NASA's 6 CubeSat TROPICS constellation. The Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) mission is designed to provide rapid-refresh microwave measurements over the tropics to observe the thermodynamic environment of tropical cyclones.

Mission Timeline

All times are approximate

+0s

Lift-off

+6s

Begin Pitch Over

+1min 10s

Max-Q

+3min 00s

Main Engine Cutoff (MECO)

+3min 05s

Fairing separation

+3min 10s

Stage separation

+3min 15s

Upper stage ignition

+8min 30s

Second Engine Cutoff (SECO)

+8min 40s

Payload Deployment

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. Eschewing labor-intensive processes such as carbon composite layups, Astra has focused on proven and cost-efficient metallic structures.

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