Astra reaches orbit with U.S. Space Force test payload

Paris/ Kodiak (Alaska), 21 November 2021. – Thumbs up: Astra Space launched its 13.1 meter rocket LV0007 with a test payload from the U.S. Space Force from the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska successfully into orbit on Saturday.

LV0007 was Astra´s fourth attempt to reach its 500 kilometers low Earth orbit (LEO), after it failed in December 2020 and in August 2021.

The company´s CEO Chris Kemp said that Astra has the rockets with the serial numbers LV0008, LV0009, and LV0010 in production; Astra will disclose more details about its first successful launch in a press conference today.

Astra Space went public through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger earlier this year.

NASA picks Intuitive Machines to study lunar swirls

NASA selected Intuitive Machines for scientific Moon missions and will pay the Houston-based company $77.5 million, the agency said. The agency picked Intuitive Machines to deliver Moon research, science investigations and a technology demonstration in 2024, NASA said. The commercial delivery is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CPLS) initiative and the Artemis program.

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