Astra insisted it did not expect its first rocket to reach orbit. Expect three flights before it reaches the target. This goal was accomplished earlier than expected, however, the company saw the invaluable end as an opportunity to gather “valuable experience” and flight data. He remained confident that he could reach orbit as planned.
The follow-up Rocket 2.2 vehicle has already been completed, and you should see a launch shortly after Astra has given “a few weeks” poring on flight data.
The Almeida-based firm is effectively a competitor to Rocket Lab, which aims to launch payloads into orbit at a lower cost than usual. To some extent, it is already successful – Rocket 1.1 took off with a launch system deployed by only six people in a week. While that may not necessarily be true in future projections, it does show that you don’t always need a comprehensive ground crew.
– Jennifer Culton (CletonJennifer) September 12, 2020
