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ЦитироватьКомпания Astra планирует запустить свою ракету 21 февраля
 После долгого молчания компания Astra, разрабатывающая легкий носитель для запуска спутников, объявила о своих ближайших планах. Правда, без излишних подробностей, сообщает SpaceNews.
 21 февраля стартовые команды компании намерены выполнить первый орбитальный пуск своей ракеты-носителя. Старт состоится по заказу Управления перспективных исследований Министерства обороны США (DARPA) с космодрома Кодиак на Аляске.
А.Ж.

ЦитироватьAstra emphasizes rapid iteration in its quest for low-cost, rapid launch
by Jeff Foust (https://spacenews.com/author/jeff-foust/) — February 14, 2020

WASHINGTON — As Astra prepares for its first orbital launch attempt, the company is setting expectations accordingly and taking the long view towards its goal of frequent, low-cost access to space.

The launch window for Astra's first orbital launch fr om Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska now opens Feb. 25, according to a U.S. Coast Guard notice published Feb. 12 (https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lnms/lnm17062020.pdf). The company will have daily windows fr om 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern through March 3.

In a Feb. 13 interview, Chris Kemp, chief executive of Astra, confirmed that launch window but didn't give a specific date when the company would make its first launch attempt. The rocket, dubbed "One of Three," will be flying to the spaceport on Kodiak Island, Alaska, in a few days.

That launch, he confirmed, will be the first of two missions as part of the DARPA Launch Challenge, a competition by DARPA to demonstrate responsive launch capabilities. Astra is the sole remaining competitor in the challenge after the other two finalists, Vector and Virgin Orbit, dropped out last year.

Kemp said the company has yet to receive the payload provided by DARPA that the company will launch on that mission. "I think it shows up any day now," he said. "Part of the challenge is not knowing what the payload is and integrating the payload at the last minute." He added he expected DARPA to disclose more details about the competition on or around Feb. 18.

Astra will receive $2 million if it successfully places that payload into orbit, and $10 million if it successfully performs a second launch from another site, which would be either Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia or Naval Outlying Field on San Nicolas Island off the California coast. Kemp said the company has been preparing for launching from any of those three sites, including filing an application with the Federal Communications Commission for a license supporting a Wallops launch, but has not been informed by DARPA which site they would use.

However, Kemp said that the company, which emerged from stealth mode just this month (https://spacenews.com/astra-unveils-plans-for-frequent-low-cost-launches/), was aware of the long odds of success for the first orbital launch of any rocket. "The fact that we're talking now to the press is really a function of wanting to make sure that, prior to the DARPA Launch Challenge, we don't frame everything around this first launch," he said. "It's not our expectation that our first launch will succeed, but it is our expectation that a campaign will succeed if we launch, learn and iterate."

He said he expected "a few attempts" before succeeding to place a payload in orbit. He based on that on historic estimates that it takes "somewhere between three and four" launches before a vehicle is successful. SpaceX, for example, did not make orbit until the fourth flight of its Falcon 1 rocket. However, Rocket Lab achieved orbit on its second Electron mission after a problem with range safety equipment, and not the rocket itself, on its first launch.

Astra is preparing for that by building three of its "Rocket 3.0" vehicles together. Kemp said the second rocket is about 90% complete and the third 40% complete. "We're able to produce a rocket a month," he said. "That allows us to, if this first flight isn't entirely successful, make whatever changes we'd like to make," he said. "It will not be a year before we launch again. It will be maybe a month or two before we launch again."

Once Astra does reach orbit, be it on its first launch or third, the company is ready to move ahead with a "big long list of satellites on manifest." He didn't disclose any specific customers, but said it included a mix of commercial and government customers willing to fly an untried vehicle to get they payloads into orbit.

"There's just so little supply of launches when customers want to fly and wh ere they want to fly that they're willing to launch on a rocket that has no success record," he said. "The fact that we have so many customers waiting in line without yet establishing that track record is pretty encouraging to us."

The key to Astra's success, he argued, is the ability to iterate quickly, incorporating improvements in the design of the rocket. The company has already done that through its first two rockets, suborbital vehicles launched from Alaska in 2018. The first rocket had a carbon composite nose cone, which cost about $250,000 to make, which was close to the target cost of the entire vehicle. "We could not use composites, period," he said, with the company switching to an aluminum structure that is cheaper and faster to produce.

Astra, unlike many others in the launch business, is eschewing the use of additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing. "We do 3D-print two components on the rocket today, and we are moving away from that as fast as we possibly can, because those 3D-printed components cost as much as the entire rocket."

That iteration will continue after successfully reaching orbit. Kemp said a version 4 of the rocket will be able to place 50 kilograms into a sun-synchronous orbit. "We think that is about right for wh ere the market is today," he said. He expected Astra to produce 25 of those, of which more than half have been sold.

That iteration also reflects competition from Rocket Lab's Electron. After Electron entered service Astra made changes to the design of its rocket, including new engines with double the thrust from those used on its 2.0 version of the rocket and larger tanks. "We were able to quickly respond to Rocket Lab's successful orbital flight," Kemp said. "We decided to double the mass of our rocket so we could directly compete with Rocket Lab. That is something that didn't take is five years to do or 11 years to do. It took us one year."

Future versions will be driven by market needs, including both vehicle capacity and launch rate. Astra, in an introductory video posted on its website, spoke of offering daily access to space, a goal he said provides a "north star" to guide the company's efforts that will take three to five generations of vehicles to reach.

"You get there by, frankly, iterating," he said. "With each generation of the rocket we'll have an opportunity to look at the market and understand what the demand looks like, and then design the rocket for a certain production rate."

Kemp emphasized near the end of the half-hour interview that the company won't be discouraged if its upcoming launch fails. "If this launch isn't entirely successful, we're going to go do it again," he said. "We're going to iterate towards orbit."

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьIn preparation for the first launch in the DARPA #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hashtag_click), Astra's rocket "1 of 3" arrives in Kodiak, Alaska, packed in a container.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180544.jpg)

ЦитироватьOver the hills and icy roads, the rocket made the trek to Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska. #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hashtag_click)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180545.jpg)

ЦитироватьL-7: The Astra vehicle is loaded in Alameda, California, and arrives at the DARPA #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hashtag_click) location in Kodiak, Alaska. Get all your updates on the Launch Challenge Channel at http://darpalaunchchallenge.org (https://t.co/QTUm0h8xt0?amp=1)

ЦитироватьNAVAREA XII 67/20

EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
GULF OF ALASKA.
ALASKA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
    252030Z TO 252359Z FEB,
    ALTERNATE 2030Z TO 2359Z
    DAILY 26 FEB THRU 03 MAR
    IN AREAS BOUND BY:
         A. 57-24.91N 152-11.05W, 57-27.62N 152-18.13W,
             57-26.03N 152-27.94W, 57-24.19N 153-10.60W,
             54-35.69N 153-41.60W, 54-34.44N 153-33.71W.
        B. 43-45.27N 158-30.71W, 43-28.14N 156-51.07W,
            41-48.65N 157-21.32W, 42-07.57N 159-03.62W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 040059Z MAR 20.//

Authority: AKAEROSPACE 122251Z FEB 20.

Date: 200733Z FEB 20
Cancel: 04005900 Mar 20

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184845.jpg) (https://twitter.com/DARPA) DARPA✔@DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 1:16 AM - Feb 21, 2020 (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1230617197581565956)

Though conditions in Kodiak are improving, the weather the last twelve hours has been less than ideal. Accordingly, the launch team is taking their mandatory day of rest today and will resume preparations at first light tomorrow morning. #launchchallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/launchchallenge?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180583.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184845.jpg) (https://twitter.com/DARPA) DARPA✔@DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 6:27 AM - Feb 21, 2020 (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1230695572618657793)

How do you begin to ready a launch pad that has next to no existing infrastructure and is nearly 2000 nautical miles from San Francisco? One storage container at a time. Join us tomorrow as we start unpacking in earnest.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180597.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180596.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180594.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180595.jpg)

Цитировать

February 20, 2020

ASTRA ROCKET 3.0 ONE OF THREE
DARPA CHALLENGE

infographic, Launch, Astra

"One of Three" is the first orbital attempt  of Astra Space small satellite launch vehicle.

Astra Rocket 3.0 is the third version and  first orbital version of Astra Space's small  satellite launch vehicle. It is designed to  carry 100kg in LEO.  Astra's rocket is the first mission of  DARPA's "Launch Challenge" in which The company must launch a payload by  Mar. 1 to win $2 million and then  successfully launch a second payload from  another U.S. location "within days" to win an  additional $10 million.

(https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/file/115764)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/75977.jpg) (https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz) Michael Sheetz✔@thesheetztweetz (https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz) 2:37 AM - Feb 20, 2020 (https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1230275302598889473)

Astra's rocket for the first mission of @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA)'s "Launch Challenge" arrived in Kodiak, Alaska.

The company must launch a payload by Mar. 1 to win $2 million and then successfully launch a second payload from another U.S. location "within days" to win an additional $10 million.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180549.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180552.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180550.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180551.jpg)

ЦитироватьDARPA Launch Challenge: What is the Payload?

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220501.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

21 февр. 2020 г.

DARPA Launch Challenge seeks to demonstrate "just in time" payload integration as part of the overall goal for rapid and responsive use of space. In contrast with typical launch campaigns where payload data is given to the launch provider months prior, details of the payloads for Launch 1 were shared with the launch team on January 22, 2020 (L-30 days). The Launch 1 payload manifest consists of four CubeSats and one hosted payload. The team received the payloads at the launch site, where integration with the rocket is being finalized.


Today, space launch is a process that begins years in advance, and it relies on a limited number of launch ranges that have complex, expensive, and one-of-a-kind, fixed infrastructure. The DARPA Launch Challenge is stressing the time, technology, systems, and processes that currently constrain access to space. The Challenge aims to minimize launch infrastructure, improve responsiveness, and take advantage of advances in commercial launch cadence to demonstrate flexible launch capabilities in days rather than years, for our nation's defense.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьL-6: Payload Integration & Weather Testing - DARPA Launch Challenge

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220501.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

22 февр. 2020 г.

ЦитироватьUpper Level Winds Tracking - DARPA Launch Challenge

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220501.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

22 февр. 2020 г.

ЦитироватьLaunch One Location - DARPA Launch Challenge

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220501.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

22 февр. 2020 г.

ЦитироватьL-5: Testing Weather Conditions for Launch - DARPA Launch Challenge

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220501.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

22 февр. 2020 г.

ЦитироватьL-4: Ground Support Equipment Delivery & Offload - DARPA Launch Challenge

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220501.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

22 февр. 2020 г.

ЦитироватьPayload Integration: DARPA Launch Challenge

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220501.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

22 февр. 2020 г.

ЦитироватьPAZA

FDC 0/7573 (A0144/20) - AK..AIRSPACE KODIAK, AK..TEMPORARY FLIGHT
RESTRICTIONS PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.143
TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT WI AN AREA BOUNDED BY
572122.24N/1524637.20W TO 572858.94N/1524348.00W TO
573146.97N/1524124.00W TO 573450.91N/1523646.80W TO
573700.00N/1522927.60W TO 573741.70N/1522204.80W TO
573725.60N/1521651.60W TO 573605.05N/1520946.80W TO
573330.27N/1520339.60W TO 572931.27N/1515851.60W TO
572502.69N/1515638.40W TO 571908.13N/1515714.40W TO
571434.10N/1515906.25W TO 571050.49N/1520912.21W TO
570950.41N/1522314.19W TO 570617.22N/1523109.71W TO
565853.51N/1523958.43W TO 565520.95N/1525348.72W TO
564924.23N/1530435.01W TO POINT OF ORIGIN.

SFC-FL600 DUE TO ROCKET LAUNCH ACTIVITY.
ANCHORAGE ARTCC TELEPHONE (907-269-1103) IS THE FAA
COORDINATION FACILITY. 27 FEB 20:30 2020 UNTIL 27 FEB 23:59 2020. 27 FEB 20:30
2020 UNTIL 27 FEB 23:59 2020.
CREATED: 21 FEB 15:34 2020


02/173 (A0154/20) - AIRSPACE DCC PSCA-DARPA LAUNCH STNR ALT
RESERVATION WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 5738N15222W TO 5737N15217W TO
5736N15210W TO 5734N15204W TO 5730N15159W TO 5725N15157W TO
5719N15157W TO 5710N15202W TO 5704N15204W TO 5640N15215W TO
5506N15255W TO 5336N15336W TO 5222N15407W TO 5220N15407W TO
5054N15444W TO 5053N15444W TO 5052N15444W TO 4329N15656W TO
4205N15722W TO 4221N15855W TO 4345N15827W TO 5721N15247W TO
5729N15244W TO 5732N15241W TO 5735N15237W TO 5737N15229W TO POINT OF
ORIGIN SFC-UNL. 27 FEB 20:30 2020 UNTIL 28 FEB 00:01 2020.
CREATED: 24 FEB 11:03 2020

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184844.jpg) DARPA @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1232003048110727168)

Due to a major winter weather event expected to impact the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska on 2/25, the next available launch window for the @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash) will be determined when conditions improve, and the launch countdown clock will be adjusted accordingly.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180528.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67716.png) Astra‏ @Astra (https://twitter.com/Astra) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/Astra/status/1232068679220641793)

1of3 Arriving in Kodiak

https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1232068661659062272/pu/vid/1280x720/Dh0oCAOWtGzhUN0H.mp4 (https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1232068661659062272/pu/vid/1280x720/Dh0oCAOWtGzhUN0H.mp4) (0:09)

Цитировать2020 Launch RocketOverview Astra MotionGraphics 001 5

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220501.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

24 февр. 2020 г.

Цитировать2020 Launch Astra Final

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220501.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

24 февр. 2020 г.

Цитировать2020 Launch L 3

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220501.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

24 февр. 2020 г.

ЦитироватьFresh out of stealth mode, Astra gearing up for orbital launch fr om Alaska
February 24, 2020 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/02/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145924.jpg)
Astra employees open the payload fairing last week on the company's small satellite launcher at Kodiak Island, Alaska, to mate several small payloads ahead of the company's first orbital launch attempt. Credit: DARPA

Some time in the next few days, a California-based company that has quietly toiled to develop a new light-class satellite launcher since 2016 will attempt to send three CubeSats into orbit fr om Kodiak Island, Alaska, on the first of two missions scheduled before the end of March to win up to $12 million in prize money fr om the U.S. military.

Astra, which operated in stealth mode until earlier this month, is gearing up to launch its first orbital mission as soon as this week. If it succeeds, and can follow up with another successful orbital launch in March, Astra stands to receive a prize of $12 million fr om the DARPA Launch Challenge, an initiative set up by the U.S. military research and development agency.

DARPA says it wants companies like Astra at the ready to deliver military payloads into orbit at low cost on short notice, giving commanders the ability to rapidly deploy orbiting assets or reconstitute communications and surveillance networks.

"Today, space launch is a process that begins years in advance, and it relies on a limited number of launch ranges that have complex, expensive, and one-of-a-kind, fixed infrastructure," DARPA says on its website. "The DARPA Launch Challenge is stressing the time, technology, systems, and processes that currently constrain access to space.

"The Challenge aims to minimize launch infrastructure, improve responsiveness, and take advantage of advances in commercial launch cadence to demonstrate flexible launch capabilities in days rather than years, for our nation's defense."

"When we originally set up this challenge, it was set up largely to take advantage of the things that were happening in the commercial marketplace," said Todd Master, a program manager in DARPA's Tactical Technology Office. "We saw a bevy of really interesting companies who were doing interesting things, many of which seemed to have the possibility of meeting our goals of DARPA Launch Challenge, which were flexible and responsive. When I say flexible, I mean, launch from anywhere. When I say responsive, I mean launch on demand. Those are our goals to get to that one day we'd be able to do literally anywhere and literally anytime."

A responsive, on-demand launch system has been on the U.S. military's wish list for years. DARPA has sponsored several of the military's efforts to support development of such a launch vehicle, with little success.

A flexible small satellite launcher would help the military with "things like battlefield reconnaissance, battle damage assessment, things that we use very tactically today," Master said in a conference call with reporters Feb. 18. "We use those tactically when we have air dominance and air control. It gets a lot harder to do when we're talking about protected airspace of over other countries or near adversaries who have capability to deny us that.

"I think you'll see a lot more use of tactical communications for short duration missions in the future as the cost availability to do this ... comes down," Master said. "If you could imagine something like a special forces raid on a protected target behind enemy lines, the ability to proliferate a substantial amount of communications for for data ... I think will be a strong need that we see, especially as we look at some of the things that we've looked at DARPA, from the perspective of what a (future) battlefield might look like. The ability to get data in and out of that is going to become really critical."

DARPA's Experimental Spaceplane Program, formerly known as the XS-1, effectively ended last month when Boeing pulled out of the partnership. DARPA had selected Boeing to lead development of a reusable hypersonic booster that could take off like a rocket, deploy an upper stage to send a payload into orbit, then return to Earth for a runway landing.

Another DARPA program — the Airborne Launch Assist Space Access, or ALASA, initiative — ended in 2015 without placing anything into orbit. Through the ALASA program, DARPA and Boeing aimed to develop an air-launched rocket that could place a small satellite in orbit after dropping from the belly of an F-15E fighter jet.

DARPA also supported the launch of the first two flights of SpaceX's Falcon 1 rocket in 2006 and 2007. Both missions failed to reach orbit, and after finally achieving success with the Falcon 1, SpaceX terminated the program in favor of the larger Falcon 9 rocket.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145950.jpg)
Astra's first orbital-class launcher, named "1 of 3," arrived Feb. 18 at the main airport on Kodiak Island, Alaska. The launch vehicle fits inside a standard cargo trailer. Credit: DARPA

Officials announced the DARPA Launch Challenge in February 2018, and three companies qualified for the competition last year. But Vector Launch, one of the launch firms, ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy last year before ever conducting an orbital launch attempt. The other company, Virgin Orbit, withdrew from the DARPA Launch Challenge to focus on commercial missions, according to DARPA.

That left Astra, then operating in stealth mode, as the only company still vying for the prize. Earlier this month, Astra exited stealth mode with an exclusive feature story published by Bloomberg.

Astra has not offered an interview to Spaceflight Now despite multiple requests.

A successful launch of the first mission from Kodiak Island would net Astra $2 million in DARPA prize money. If the second mission succeeds by March 31, DARPA would pay out the remaining $10 million prize to Astra.

In a bid to test the flexibility of Astra, DARPA officials did not disclose the developers of the payloads for the first DARPA Launch Challenge mission until a month before launch, according to Master. The payloads were not delivered to Astra for integration with the rocket, which Astra has named "1 of 3" or "Rocket 3.0," until less than a week before the planned liftoff date.

The second mission for the DARPA Launch Challenge has a 14-day launch window opening March 18, according to Master. The second mission will take off from a separate launch pad at Kodiak than Launch 1, but DARPA did not inform Astra of the launch site until Feb. 18, a month before opening of the launch window, in order to challenge the launch vehicle team.

Other sites under consideration for Launch 2 of the DARPA Launch Challenge included Wallops Island, Virginia.

A two-week launch window for Launch 1 opened Feb. 17 under the rules of DARPA's Launch Challenge. Astra requested extra time to prepare the rocket and set a preliminary launch date of Tuesday, Feb. 25.

Astra's two-stage launch vehicle — already assembled at the company's headquarters in Alameda, California — arrived on Kodiak Island aboard an air transport plane Feb. 18. The 38-foot-long (11.6-meter), 52-inch-wide (1.32-meter) launch vehicle fits inside a standard trailer, which was trucked from the airfield to the Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska on the southeastern flank of Kodiak Island to begin launch preparations.

"What you see when you start is basically a bare pad of concrete, with the idea that one day you could extend this to anywhere," Master said. "So the team doesn't get access to the actual facility to start doing preparations of their equipemtn or their vehicle until days before (launch)."

In the last week, a lean team of less than a dozen Astra engineers and technicians have unpacked the rocket and ground support equipment, including a mobile launch mount. Astra has also mated three CubeSats and a hosted payload to the rocket's second stage.

DARPA said Monday the liftoff would be postponed from its planned launch date Tuesday due to a "major winter weather event" predicted to impact Kodiak Island. A new launch date "will be determined when conditions improve, and the launch countdown clock will be adjusted accordingly," DARPA tweeted.

A countdown clock on DARPA's Launch Challenge website was reset for a possible launch attempt Thursday. Airspace warning notices originally released for launch attempts Tuesday and Wednesday were deleted and replaced with warnings for possible launch attempts Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The daily launch window opens at 3:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT; 11:30 a.m. Alaska Standard Time) and extends three hours.

While the window for Launch 1 extends through March 1, Master said last week that officials will ensure Astra has at least four launch days with good weather available before closing the book on the DARPA Launch Challenge.

"So if we high winds for every single for the next two weeks, which I really hope we don't have, we would give them additional time," Master said.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145931.jpg)
Astra teams test-fire a rocket at the company's headquarters in Alameda, California. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the skyline of San Francisco are seen in the background. Credit: Astra

Founded in 2016, Astra is headquartered in Alameda, California, just across the bay from San Francisco. Chris Kemp, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and former IT executive at NASA, established Astra in partnership with Adam London, who led a startup named Ventions focused on developing miniaturized rocket propulsion technologies.

"Our mission is to really focus on earth, and companies and governments and any project that helps make life on earth better, helps connect life on Earth, observe and influence our planet in a way that advances human interests and commerce," Kemp said. "I think we're really open to working with any government agency and/or commercial entity that has payloads that are focused on our planet."

Astra's first orbital-class launcher is on the small end of the burgeoning light-class satellite launch market.

"We have designed it to fit inside of a shipping container, and the payload performance to the orbit of this (mission) in its direct insertion mode, which is lower performing, is a little over 10 kilograms (22 pounds)," London said Feb. 18 in a conference call with reporters. The rocket is designed to do 25 kilograms (55 pounds) to sun-synchronous orbit."

Other companies competing in the small satellite launch market are aiming to haul heavier payloads into orbit.

Rocket Lab, the only small launch firm with an operational booster, can deliver up to 330 pounds (150 kilograms) of payload to a 310-mile-high (500-kilometer) sun-synchronous polar orbit. Virgin Orbit, which once participated in the DARPA Launch Challenge, says its air-dropped LauncherOne vehicle will be able to carry up to 660 pounds (300 kilograms) to a similar sun-synchronous orbit when it begins flying later this year.

Other startup U.S. launch companies, such as Relativity Space and Firefly Aerospace, are working on rockets with heavier lift capacities. But they are still significantly smaller than rockets owned by entrenched launch companies like SpaceX and United Launch Alliance.

Numerous other launch startups in the United States, Europe and China are also developing privately-owned vehicles to loft small payloads into orbit for a range of commercial and military customers.

While the diminutive dimensions of Astra's launcher stand out among competitors, it wouldn't be the smallest rocket to reach orbit. That distinction goes to the Japanese SS-520-5 launcher — a modified solid-fueled sounding rocket — which injected a CubeSat  into orbit in 2018 in a one-off demonstration of Japan's small satellite launch capability.

Astra's first orbital rocket is powered by five kerosene-fueled first stage engines. A single engine is mounted to the rocket's second stage.

Prototypes of the launcher flew two times on suborbital missions from Kodiak in 2018. The Federal Aviation Administration classified the flights as mishaps, but on Astra's website, the company writes that both rockets launched successfully, while acknowledging that the second flight was "shorter than planned."

Lessons from the suborbital missions were incorporated into Rocket 3.0, the company's first orbit-capable launcher, according to Astra.

"We've done a lot of testing already back here in California with the upper stage and the first stage doing full-duration hotfire tests," Kemp said. "But the thing that we haven't done and that we will do on a very public stage is put the entire system together and do the ultimate test, wh ere literally everything has to work perfectly for us to achieve the objectives of this challenge."

New rockets have often required several launch attempts before successfully achieving orbit.

"From our company's perspective, it is a campaign of launches that will result in a successful orbit, not this first launch," Kemp said. "This first launch will deliver to DARPA a system capable of being moved around the country and launching small, affordable agile payloads into earth orbit. But from our company's perspective, it's the first of a series of launches, wh ere we will achieve orbit.

"What we will do up in Kodiak is we will test this entire system — the launcher, the rocket, the software and everything at the range —  as a fully integrated suite of hardware and software for the very first time," Kemp said.

Investors have supplied more than $100 million to fund development of Astra's rockets and a 250,000-square-foot launch vehicle factory in California, Bloomberg reported earlier this month.

That's significantly more than the $12 million up for grabs in the DARPA Launch Challenge.

"Typically, a challenge is not a fantastic mechanism for cost recovery," Master said. "It's not intended to be (wh ere) you win this thing, and you're going to make money on this event. I don't think in most of our other prior challenges, you would see that any team probably came out necessarily in the black as a direct result of their prize money.

"The ... incentives that we were hoping our teams would see when they entered was that you may have to invest a little to win this challenge, but once you do, you're going to highlight yourself as as solely capable or uniquely capable," Master said.

In the Feb. 18 conference call, Kemp tempered expectations that Astra's first orbital launch attempt might be 100 percent successful.

"We would be delighted, but are not expecting to fully achieve all of the objectives here," Kemp said. "But the nation now has a completely portable launch system, and we are capable of, and will over the months ahead, launch and launch and launch again, potentially from different sites.

"Now we have the capability that DARPA wanted to see America challenged with creating, and I think to some degree taxpayers have already won because we've developed a system that will work," Kemp said. "And we're really excited to have the opportunity to compete."

Master said the DARPA Launch Challenge was set up to be different from a typical military launch contract solicitation.

"While we're extremely excited about having a team that that we're hopeful is capable of completing this challenge — and we think that Astra's approach seems like it's viable — part of the goal setting us up as a challenge was was not having necessarily a preferred provider or preferred approach," Master said.

In a typical procurement, DARPA or other military agencies might issue a request for proposals to ask for bids from contractors.

"And we award and manage a contract with those providers," Master said. "In the case of the challenge, we basically set ... goals and it's really left to the team to decide how they're going to accomplish those. It takes us a little bit out of the driver's seat, which for an engineer is hard sometimes because you don't have the specific insight.

"But we really are trying to say, while we're hopeful for Astra and we would like to accomplish our goals ... it's not necessarily the only approach or DARPA's preferred approach. But it is the one that is is most likely to accomplish the challenge in in the near-term here."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145925.jpg)
Astra employees prepare to mate one of the small nano-payloads assigned to fly on first orbital launcher, designated "One of Three." Credit: DARPA

DARPA revealed last week the payloads slated to fly on the first DARPA Launch Challenge mission.

One Prometheus CubeSat developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory for the Department of Defense will fly on Astra's rocket. A series of Prometheus CubeSats have launched on previous missions, and the shoebox-sized Prometheus nanosatellite launching from Kodiak will demonstrate capabilities aimed at "reducing tasking and data dissemination timelines to provide military operators with tactically relevant information."

Two identical CubeSats from the University of South Florida will also launch on a mission named ARCE-1.

The twin CubeSats "will fly together in the same orbit and perform inter-satellite networked communications and a high degree of system autonomy," according to DARPA.

"Through ARCE-1, the University of South Florida aims to demonstrate the algorithms and hardware systems necessary to support large constellations of LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites that will intelligently reconfigure around different tasks, gracefully handle faulty and failed satellites, and operate with a minimum of oversight from Earth-based operators," officials wrote on DARPA's website.

There's also a miniature radio beacon that will remain attached to the Astra rocket's second stage once in orbit. The Space Object Automated Reporting Systems, or SOARS, transmitter from Tiger Innovations will allow engineers to improve orbit tracking and space situational awareness.

Astra will attempt to place the payloads into an orbit roughly 276 miles (445 kilometers) in altitude, with an inclination of 97.2 degrees to the equator, according to Master.

"While we would like them to achieve that target orbit — ultimately customers want to achieve a target orbit — our success criterium from the challenge is achieving orbit," Master said. "For the purpose of the challenge, we've defined orbit as a 250-kilometer (155-mile) circular orbit, which may sound low to some, but from a future military tactical use case would still show some benefit.

"We believe if a team is able to achieve orbit successfully through a series of first stage, second stage, payload separation, etc., that you have really accomplished the technical goals that we have set forth, and performance improvements can follow," he said.

Assuming the first mission of the DARPA Launch Challenge reaches orbit, Astra will try to launch a second rocket with another set of nanosatellite payloads in the second half of March. The window for Launch 2 at Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska opens March 18, according to DARPA.

"To win this challenge, we have to be prepared in a few weeks to have another rocket," Kemp said. "So the silent heroes are the teams back here in the Bay Area that are producing rockets. So we have a rocket factory that is producing rockets at about a rate of one per month, and we have another rocket 90 percent complete. And as we either succeed or as we learn — either outcome is fine for us — from this first launch, we will either make changes, or test and ship another rocket and launch again here in the next month or two.

"And we will keep doing that," Kemp said. "I think without this contest, and without this challenge, this might have taken longer, and it certainly might not have been as possible for us to show up anywhere in the country with this capability."

The rules of the DARPA Launch Challenge originally stipulated that the second flight must take off from a different launch site than Launch 1. Other launch sites under consideration by DARPA included Vandenberg Air Force Base and San Nicolas Island in California, and Wallops Island, Virginia.

In the end, DARPA directed Astra to ready for Launch 2 at a separate launch pad at Kodiak around 1,000 feet (300 meters) from the pad to be used for Launch 1.

"Our team will accomplish Launch 1 from one of those with the trajectory we've given them and payload that we've given them," Master said. "If they're successful, they will have to recalculate a new trajectory from a new pad with a different payload.

"The reason why we opted to do this (was) once we looked at it, we really didn't want to make this a logistics challenge or a regulatory challenge," Master said. "Whether we moved 5,000 miles or 1,000 feet, the technical challenges associated with it and the benefit to what we are trying to demonstrate from a goals standpoint remain the same."

DARPA officials said they carefully considered staging Launch 2 from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore. But the launch range at Wallops is busier than Kodiak, with launch pads in use early this year by Northrop Grumman's Antares and Minotaur rockets.

A new launch pad at Wallops for Rocket Lab, a competitor of Astra in the small launch market, is also undergoing final testing before the Rocket Lab's first mission from Virginia in the coming months.

Public safety at Wallops, which lies closer to populated areas than the launch complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska, was also a concern, Master said.

Pam Underwood, manager of operations and integration at the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, said the federal regulatory agency will need to approve a separate license request from Astra for Launch 2 because it will take off from a separate launch pad at Kodiak and follow a different trajectory into space.

An FAA license for Launch 1 has already been approved, officials said.

With Astra's launch from Kodiak Island, Alaska, Master said officials will experiment with techniques to reduce the impact of space launches on air traffic.

"Knowing in the future that we want to use space launch much more frequently. air traffic integration becomes an increasing challenge with that," Master said. "Today, the way we treat it is generally space launches are treated as a national event, and we close lots and lots of air traffic corridors

"At a time when we do launches a dozen times a year, something like that is still trackable, but once we start to expand to hundreds of launches a year, that approach is no longer going to work," he said. "So we identified pretty early on that we were going to have some challenges with that and wanted to put in place any early fixes that we could."

The Space Data Integrator aims to incorporate data from launch and re-entry vehicles into operational air traffic management systems, allowing the FAA to track trajectories of launches and re-entry operations an the status of mission events, according to an FAA fact sheet on the project.

The FAA first activated the Space Data Integrator in "shadow mode" for a suborbital Blue Origin launch in 2018.

"This is wh ere we start to integrate real-time data of launches into the broader air traffic control system and allow us to feed that information back to the FAA and then dynamically control the windows while maintaining safety," said Mark Lester, president and CEO of Alaska Aerospace, which owns and operates the Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska. "While we don't have the congestion that the East Coast has, we do have trans-Pacific flights we need to be mindful of, and the local air carriers as well. So it's exciting to integrate all this together as we increase our ops tempo."

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185257.jpg) Todd Master‏ @MasterActual (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/MasterActual/status/1232050867114663936)

Behind the tent = not windy. Anywhere else on the launch pad = WOOOOOOSH. (*audio on) #launchchallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/launchchallenge?src=hash)

https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1232050797501800448/pu/vid/1268x720/zGMcbHg_-6iytxkY.mp4 (https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1232050797501800448/pu/vid/1268x720/zGMcbHg_-6iytxkY.mp4) (0:33)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184844.jpg) DARPA‏ @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 19 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1232372606118039557)

Today was the first launch window for @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA)'s #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash). Weather conditions, however, dictate otherwise. Extreme weather provides a good stress of being flexible and dynamic, two key traits of the Challenge.
hxxxps://xxx.youtube.com/watch?v=76ck6Bw2M4k&feature=youtu.be

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180579.jpg)

ЦитироватьDARPA Launch Challenge - Flexible & Responsive Launch
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24 февр. 2020 г.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185257.jpg) Todd Master‏ @MasterActual (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/MasterActual/status/1232452860488499200)

Maybe let's not launch a rocket today #launchchallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/launchchallenge?src=hash)

https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1232452783187476480/pu/vid/1280x720/W16H6niS2RybYL6y.mp4 (https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1232452783187476480/pu/vid/1280x720/W16H6niS2RybYL6y.mp4) (0:19)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186106.jpg) Homem do Espaço‏ @HomemDoEspacoBr (https://twitter.com/HomemDoEspacoBr) 6 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/HomemDoEspacoBr/status/1232493404904288256)

Astra Rocket will be launched in a @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) mission

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180590.jpg)


4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/HomemDoEspacoBr/status/1232510553698054147)

Foguete Astra Rocket "1 de 3". A Astra e a Agência de Projetos de Pesquisa Avançada de Defesa (DARPA) estão se preparando para o primeiro em um "desafio de lançamento" de missão dupla.

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4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/HomemDoEspacoBr/status/1232516592078139392)

#LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash) Astra Rocket by Homem do Espaço

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180593.jpg)

ЦитироватьDARPA Launch Recap Feb 24, 2020
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25 февр. 2020 г.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184844.jpg)DARPA‏ @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1232732389476110339)

Update on @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash) countdown: Rehearsal now scheduled for Thursday 2/27; first launch opportunity on Friday, 2/28. Stay tuned to all updates on #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash). Watch at: http://www.darpalaunchchallenge.org  (https://t.co/QTUm0h8xt0)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180615.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185257.jpg) Todd Master‏ @MasterActual (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) 24 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/MasterActual/status/1232873830277713920)

Getting closer to the fun part #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180630.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185257.jpg) Todd Master‏ @MasterActual (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) 26 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/MasterActual/status/1233083738780622848)

L-1. Gorgeous day for wet dress rehearsal. #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180648.jpg)

ЦитироватьDARPA Launch Challenge Recap Feb 26, 2020
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27 февр. 2020 г.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184844.jpg) DARPA‏ @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 10 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1233114285196414976)

@Astra (https://twitter.com/Astra)'s rocket "1 of 3" is moved into vertical position at the Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska. Today the team is going through "wet dress rehearsal" in which the liquid propellant will be added to the rocket, but not fired. See updates at http://darpalaunchchallenge.org  (https://t.co/B6W9hM68YF)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180649.jpg)
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Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185257.jpg) Todd Master‏ @MasterActual (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) 5 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/MasterActual/status/1233142735567118336)

Welp, no WDR today. Check again tomorrow. K thx bye! #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185257.jpg) Todd Master‏ @MasterActual (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/MasterActual/status/1233146448989999104)

These bison were super bummed. They had wandered over to get a good view.  #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180434.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185680.gif) Ben Brockert‏ @wikkit (https://twitter.com/wikkit) 28 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/wikkit/status/1233217114820923393)

Lazy rocket afternoon, probably by @johnkrausphotos (https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos)
Had some normal shakeout issues today, which pushes out the launch another day.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180436.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67628.jpg) John Kraus  ❄️ :f09f9a80:‏ @johnkrausphotos (https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1233224038786355202)

Astra's Rocket 3.0 launch vehicle, nicknamed "One of Three," is raised vertical at the Pacific Spaceport Complex — Alaska ahead of Astra's first orbital mission, which will be the first launch of the DARPA Launch Challenge. (Photo: Astra)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180437.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184844.jpg) DARPA @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 5 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1233143228448329730)

Update: Wet Dress Rehearsal has been postponed till tomorrow 28 Feb.

Цитироватьhttps://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1233114285196414976 (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1233114285196414976)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29925.jpg) Michael Baylor‏ @nextspaceflight (https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1233165641479270405)

Mike Curie says that today's planned wet dress rehearsal was postponed due to a technical issue. Teams are now hoping to conduct the wet dress tomorrow after new hardware arrives.

ЦитироватьСтартап Astra совершит первый тестовый запуск своей ракеты для выполнения срочных заданий Пентагона
       Вашингтон. 28 февраля. ИНТЕРФАКС - Новый частный американский производитель ракет - компания Astra планирует в пятницу совершить первый тестовый запуск своего носителя легкого класса Rocket 3.0 с мини-спутниками в интересах министерства обороны США, сообщило Агентство перспективных исследовательских проектов в области обороны (DARPA).
       Запуск, который проводится в рамках конкурса DARPA, планируется осуществить с тихоокеанского космического комплекса на острове Кадьяк, расположенного у южного побережья Аляски, во временное окно с 23:30 в пятницу до 02:30 мск в субботу. В случае непогоды оно может быть расширено до 1 марта.
       Ракета Astra Rocket 3.0 представляет собой двухступенчатую ракету с пятью двигателями. Носитель может выводить на 500-километровую солнечно-синхронную орбиту до 150 кг полезной нагрузки. Длина ракеты составляет всего 11,6 метра и может транспортироваться в контейнере на любой стартовый комплекс.
       На борту Astra Rocket 3.0 размещены четыре малых спутника. Они будут выполнять роль срочного заказа на вывод на орбиту груза, который передается компании Пентагоном для установки на ее ракете, как минимум, за трое-четверо суток до старта.
       В рамках теста, в частности, планируется вывести на целевую орбиту высотой 445 км экспериментальный спутник связи Prometheus Лос-Аламосской ядерной лаборатории, двух спутников связи, созданных в университете Южной Флориды и радиомаяка Space Object Automated Reporting Systems.
       При этом в рамках конкурса DARPA запуск ракеты-носителя будет признан успешным, даже если ракета поднимется, хотя бы на высоту 150 км.

"Астра"

      Высокая экономичность ракеты может позволить занять Astra серьезные конкурентные позиции на рынке космических запусков. По утверждению компании, ее ракета будет самым простым и технологичным носителем в мире. Стоимость одного старта должна составлять около 2,5 млн долл. Для сравнения запуск ракеты тяжелого класса Falcon 9 компании SpaceX оценивается более чем в 60 млн долл.
      "Мы хотим получить возможность запускать полезную нагрузку на орбиту в очень короткие сроки, без предварительного уведомления о полезной нагрузке, орбиты или места запуска ", - сказал Тодд Мастер, менеджер отдела по тактическим технологиям программы "DARPA Launch Challenge".
       В случае успешного старта Astra получит от DARPA 2 млн долл. Это позволит компании получить еще 10 млн долл. при осуществлении второго успешного запуска, который уже запланирован на 18 марта.
       Компания Astra собирается осуществлять дешевые регулярные запуски космических аппаратов в интересах американских военных, которым нужны носители, способные по кратчайшим заявкам выводить на орбиту малые космические аппараты.
       Конкурс DARPA был объявлен два года назад. Изначально в нем участвовали 18 компаний. Однако по итогам осталась одна Astra.
       До конца 2020 года Astra создать 25 ракет, чтобы начать коммерческие запуски. После этого она планирует выпустить еще 100 ракет с более низкой стоимостью.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьDARPA Launch Challenge Launch 1 Feb 26, 2020

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28 февр. 2020 г.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184844.jpg) DARPA‏ @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 55 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1233456779922636801)

Today is wet dress for Team @ASTRA (https://twitter.com/Astra) at the DARPA #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash). An update on how things are progressing will take place on our daily webcast at 2:00pm Alaska/3:00pm PT on http://www.darpalaunchallenge.org  (https://t.co/7VpUBA3pxi)

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ЦитироватьDARPA Launch Challenge Recap Feb 27 2020
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28 февр. 2020 г.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185257.jpg) Todd Master‏ @MasterActual (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/MasterActual/status/1233580958042988549)

Rocket is ready for launch! I'm heading to mission control in Alameda, CA. Hey Kodiak, so long and thanks for all the fish! #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash) – Kodiak Airport (ADQ) (https://twitter.com/search?q=place%3A0fc3444476155006)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180451.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184844.jpg)DARPA @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 21 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1233774183475183616)

Today is launch day for the @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash). Tune in at 1pm ET/10 am PT for our live broadcast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wzagx8kC7s ... (https://t.co/Stt9V51CQx)

More info about DARPA Launch Challenge here: http://www.darpalaunchallenge.org  (https://t.co/7VpUBA3pxi)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184844.jpg) DARPA‏ @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 60 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1233829873917087746)

Today is Launch Day for the @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash)
Tune in at 1pm ET/10 am PT for our live broadcast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JP-_9tIshU ... (https://t.co/FcThlXjBg8)
More info about DARPA Launch Challenge here:
http://www.darpalaunchchallenge.org   (https://t.co/QTUm0h8xt0)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67716.png) Astra‏ @Astra (https://twitter.com/Astra) 7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/Astra/status/1233843984721596416)

Weather will prevent us from making our first launch attempt today. Will try again tomorrow!

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180471.jpg)

Цитироватьtnt22 написал:
Здрасти-и-и, ТБМ! Приплыли... Кина не будет. О5 страшный ветер? Утомили...

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184844.jpg) DARPA @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 14 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1233860575098286081)

Due to high winds and triggered lightening, today's launch was scrubbed. The next launch opportunity will be tomorrow at 11:00am AKT/Noon PST. (The weather gods, however, may have other ideas.)
Tune into http://www.darpalaunchchallenge.org  (https://t.co/QTUm0h8xt0) for the latest information.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180559.jpg)

Цитировать00:30, 1 марта 2020
Astra вновь не смогла совершить запуск спутников в интересах Пентагона

Москва. 1 марта. INTERFAX.RU - Новый частный американский производитель ракет - компания Astra из-за непогоды вновь на сутки перенесла тестовый запуск своего носителя легкого класса Rocket 3.0, который в перспективе по первой заявке должен будет выводить на орбиту военные спутники в интересах министерства обороны США, сообщило Агентство перспективных исследовательских проектов в области обороны (DARPA).

Испытательный запуск, который проводится в рамках конкурса DARPA, теперь планируется осуществить с тихоокеанского космического комплекса на острове Кадьяк, расположенного у южного побережья Аляски, в воскресенье в 15:30 по времени Восточного побережья США (23:30 по Москве). Первоначально он должен был быть осуществлен еще 25 февраля, однако несколько раз переносился из-за неблагоприятных погодных условий.

Ракета Astra Rocket 3.0 представляет собой двухступенчатую ракету с пятью двигателями. Носитель может выводить на 500-километровую солнечно-синхронную орбиту до 150 кг полезной нагрузки. Длина ракеты составляет всего 11,6 м и может транспортироваться в контейнере на любой стартовый комплекс.

На борту Astra Rocket 3.0 размещены четыре малых спутника. Они будут выполнять роль срочного, как минимум, за трое-четверо суток до старта, заказа Пентагона на вывод на орбиту военных космических аппаратов.

В рамках теста, в частности, планируется вывести на целевую орбиту высотой 445 км экспериментальный спутник связи Prometheus Лос-Аламосской ядерной лаборатории, двух спутников связи, созданных в университете Южной Флориды и радиомаяка Space Object Automated Reporting Systems.

При этом в рамках конкурса DARPA запуск ракеты-носителя будет признан успешным, даже если ракета поднимется, хотя бы на высоту 150 км.

Высокая экономичность ракеты может позволить Astra занять серьезные конкурентные позиции на рынке космических запусков. По утверждению компании, ее ракета будет самым простым и технологичным носителем в мире. Стоимость одного старта должна составлять около $2,5 млн. Для сравнения запуск ракеты тяжелого класса Falcon 9 компании SpaceX оценивается более чем в $ 60 млн.

"Мы хотим получить возможность запускать полезную нагрузку на орбиту в очень короткие сроки, без предварительного уведомления о полезной нагрузке, орбиты или места запуска ", - сказал Тодд Мастер, менеджер отдела по тактическим технологиям программы "DARPA Launch Challenge".

ЦитироватьDARPA Launch Challenge Recap Feb 28, 2020

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220410.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

29 февр. 2020 г.

ЦитироватьNext launch opportunity scheduled for Monday, 3/2.

ЦитироватьDARPA Launch Challenge Recap Feb 29, 2020

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220410.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

29 февр. 2020 г.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184845.jpg) (https://twitter.com/DARPA) DARPA✔@DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 5:00 PM - Mar 1, 2020 (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1234116381370654720)

Although the weather wasn't ideal, @Astra (https://twitter.com/Astra) met launch criteria yesterday by resolving a few tech items, including fueling and loading cryogens. The next launch oppty will be on 3/2 at 11am AK/12pm PT. For an explanation of the scrub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og3xva0vB6s ... (https://t.co/NYyq81Bpyw)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185223.jpg) YouTube ‎@YouTube (https://twitter.com/YouTube)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1233995286357389312/5PTQMFj7?format=jpg&name=280x280) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og3xva0vB6s)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185256.png) (https://twitter.com/Astra) Astra✔@Astra (https://twitter.com/Astra) 7:54 PM - Mar 1, 2020 (https://twitter.com/Astra/status/1234160020369104897)

Due to weather, the next launch opportunity will be tomorrow at noon PT

https://twitter.com/darpa/status/1234116381370654720 ... (https://t.co/34FtYw96U9)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68302.jpg) (https://twitter.com/planet4589) Jonathan McDowell✔@planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 9:55 PM - Mar 1, 2020 (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1234190446517198849)

Here is a Google Earth image of the Kodiak launch area. Where are the new LP-3A and LP-3B sites? I am guessing the sites I've called B1 and B2 here? Can someone who knows confirm or deny? @MasterActual (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) ? @johnkrausphotos (https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos) ?

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180699.jpg)


10:14 PM - Mar 1, 2020 (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1234195208218271744)

OK so here is my revised attempt

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180700.jpg)


(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185258.jpg) (https://twitter.com/MasterActual)  Todd Master@MasterActual (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) 10:45 PM - Mar 1, 2020 (https://twitter.com/MasterActual/status/1234203246819823618)

You have points correctly now, though the labels are wrong. The "3A?" is actually designated as "Pad C."

That was originally a gravel pad with a small concrete apron that we worked with PSCA to upgrade for #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash) to mostly replicate their recently constructed "Pad B"


(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68302.jpg) (https://twitter.com/planet4589) Jonathan McDowell✔@planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 11:03 PM - Mar 1, 2020 (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1234207737405493251)

Here is my revised attempt. Best of luck to Todd and crew for tomorrow's launch attempt.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180710.jpg)


(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185258.jpg) (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) Todd Master@MasterActual (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) 11:44 PM - Mar 1, 2020 (https://twitter.com/MasterActual/status/1234217859208728577)

Here's a better graphic from our peeps at PSCA.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180712.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184844.jpg) DARPA @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/DARPA/status/1234474327845851136)

Today marks the final launch window for the DARPA #LaunchChallenge (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchChallenge?src=hash) competitor @Astra (https://twitter.com/Astra). Live webcast starts at 11am AK/3:00pm ET at http://www.darpalaunchchallenge.org  (https://t.co/QTUm0h8xt0).

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/180755.jpg)

ЦитироватьDARPA Launch Challenge - 14 Days Preparing For Launch

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220410.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

2 мар. 2020 г.

Цитировать

DEFINING LAUNCH SUCCESS
MARCH 2, 2020

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/127212.jpg)
Rocket "2of3" and "3of3" in production at our Alameda factory

Today, we are kicking off a campaign of three launches.

Our latest rocket will launch fr om Alaska's Kodiak Island in a bid to win the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Launch Challenge (http://www.darpalaunchchallenge.org/). The  winning company must successfully deliver a payload into low-Earth orbit on short notice—then be prepared to do it all over again from a different location, within a few weeks. While the second launch will also take place in Kodiak, the goal is to encourage the development of small, nimble rockets that can deliver small satellites quickly, from mobile launch pads anywhere in the world.  We like this goal, and are honored to support our country's strategic space capabilities by competing in the Challenge today.

When we founded Astra three years ago, we stayed under the radar. No website, no press tours of our 250,000-square-foot Bay Area facility, no flashy trade show booths. We set out to build a new kind of space company, and we wanted to be free to experiment, to iterate, over and over again, holding ourselves to our own standards, instead of the expectations of others.

Rapid test and iteration are the cornerstones of our development process. We've performed thousands of rocket engine tests at our headquarters in Alameda, a few hundred feet away from wh ere those engines are designed and built. We can afford to experiment quickly and repeatedly because our rockets are far less expensive. The rockets are primarily constructed from lightweight aluminum, instead of costly composite and 3D printed materials.

During the flight there will be a few major milestones along the trajectory to orbit. The more we accomplish, the more we learn, and the closer we are to reaching orbit. Success for this flight means we accomplish enough to make orbit within three flights, which we have defined as reaching milestone 5 or beyond... separating the upper stage successfully in outer space.  We believe that once we reach this milestone, we'll be no more than two flights away from reaching orbit.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/127214.png)

We have a second rocket ready to go ("2 of 3"), and another will be ready right after that, and we are confident that we will reach orbit because the faster you learn, the faster you succeed.

Ad Astra,

Chris and Adam

ЦитироватьUpdated at 03/02/2020 23:20 Invalid date Stephen Clark

DARPA says today's launch time has been postponed a bit to ensure Astra's rocket does not get too close to another object already in orbit. A new launch time has not been announced.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185257.jpg) Todd Master‏ @MasterActual (https://twitter.com/MasterActual) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/MasterActual/status/1234578218394349568)

T-0 planned for 2055Z

ЦитироватьЧебурашка написал:
Что показывают последние часы?
62 дня до чего?

Цитировать03/02/2020 23:45 Stephen Clark

Three CubeSats are on-board today's mission. As part of the DARPA Launch Challenge, which is designed to test the responsiveness of the launch provider, Astra was not informed of the payloads until Jan. 22, just a month before the opening of the launch window.

One Prometheus CubeSat developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory for the Department of Defense will fly on Astra's rocket. A series of Prometheus CubeSats have launched on previous missions, and the shoebox-sized Prometheus nanosatellite launching from Kodiak will demonstrate capabilities aimed at "reducing tasking and data dissemination timelines to provide military operators with tactically relevant information."

Two identical CubeSats from the University of South Florida will also launch on a mission named ARCE-1.

The twin CubeSats "will fly together in the same orbit and perform inter-satellite networked communications and a high degree of system autonomy," according to DARPA.

"Through ARCE-1, the University of South Florida aims to demonstrate the algorithms and hardware systems necessary to support large constellations of LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites that will intelligently reconfigure around different tasks, gracefully handle faulty and failed satellites, and operate with a minimum of oversight from Earth-based operators," officials wrote on DARPA's website.

There's also a miniature radio beacon that will remain attached to the Astra rocket's second stage once in orbit. The Space Object Automated Reporting Systems, or SOARS, transmitter from Tiger Innovations will allow engineers to improve orbit tracking and space situational awareness.

Astra will attempt to place the payloads into an orbit roughly 276 miles (445 kilometers) in altitude, with an inclination of 97.2 degrees to the equator.

ЦитироватьИгорь Годунов написал:
 

ЦитироватьЧебурашка (//forum/user/14248/) написал:
Что показывают последние часы?
62 дня до чего?

день года. вероятно

ЦитироватьИгорь Годунов написал:
 

ЦитироватьЧебурашка (//forum/user/14248/) написал:
Что показывают последние часы?
62 дня до чего?

день года. вероятно

Цитировать03/02/2020 23:52 Stephen Clark

The Kodiak range controller reports the range is go for launch.

Цитировать03/02/2020 23:55 Stephen Clark

The hold was called at T-minus 53 seconds by Astra's guidance, navigation and control officer.

Цитировать03/02/2020 23:57 Stephen Clark

Today's launch window extends to 6:30 p.m. EST (2:30 p.m. Alaska time; 2330 GMT), so there's some time to resolve whatever issue triggered the hold and still attempt launch today.

Цитировать03/03/2020 00:07 Stephen Clark

Mike Curie, the host of DARPA's webcast, says the launch team audio loop is quiet as teams discuss their next steps offline.

Цитировать03/03/2020 00:27 Stephen Clark

DARPA reports the range is "red" at Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska. Live coverage will resume in about a half-hour.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67594.png) Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1234599310144217088)

Todd: Guidance and Nav saw something off nominal at T-1 min that they wanted to take a longer look at.


2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1234599469607464967)

After that hold, the Flight Termination System transmitter/receivers had an issue, and teams needed to swap out the transmitter.  Range is now GREEN again!


1 мин. назад& (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1234599689355395072&)

Pressurization system was reconifured manually at the pad.  Teams actually when to the pad.

Цитировать03/03/2020 01:05 Stephen Clark

Todd Master, manager of DARPA's Launch Challenge, says Astra engineers continue assessing "off-nominal" data fr om the rocket's guidance, navigation and control system.

In the meantime, teams at Kodiak Island have replaced a suspect ground transmitter that would be used to send a destruct command to the rocket in the event of a major problem after liftoff.

Technicians from Astra also entered the pad -- wh ere the rocket remains fueled with kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants -- to reconfigure some helium pressurization bottles. This enables Astra to remain on standby for a possible launch before the end of today's window at 6:30 p.m. EST (2330 GMT; 2:30 p.m. Alaska time), assuming engineers can resolve the guidance, navigation and control issue that caused the countdown hold earlier today.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67594.png) Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 48 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1234611268574699526)

"No new information."  Honestly folks, this isn't looking good for today.  Things happen, not giving up yet.  44 minutes left in the window, but they need to be counting again in 28 minutes.

Цитироватьandr59 написал:
Крис Гебхард пишет, что по словам Тодда Мастера было предотвращено столкновение с МКС. Во дают.

And the webcast is back. Update: Todd Master (Darpa Launch Challenger "master"): The collision avoidance was for the Space Station!

 https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1234599073233219585 (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1234599073233219585)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67594.png) Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1234614179077615616)

SCRUB.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67594.png) Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 27 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1234614711246839809)

Too bad. Today was the end of the challenge, so @Astra (https://twitter.com/Astra) won't get any @DARPA (https://twitter.com/DARPA) reward money. It likely means they've forfeited the entire follow-on sums of over $10 million as well ($12 million total) unless they strike a backroom deal - unlikely, as others would protest fiercely.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67594.png) Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 56 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1234616807870386176)

Interview:  "If data was correct, could have caused a problem with the launch. Winning the challenge would have been nice, but getting to orbit is the goal."

ЦитироватьWATCH LIVE: Astra Space to Launch Rocket 3.0 ] #DARPALaunchChallenge (https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%23DARPALaunchChallenge) @3:30pm EST

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220339.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/NewerDocumentaries) SPACE (Official) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIR_LPmEQ9QHR0yB2lxgaxQ)

Трансляция началась 3 часа назад

Цитировать

ROCKET 1 OF 3, LAUNCH ATTEMPT 1
MARCH 2, 2020

Today, Astra began countdown of the first orbital launch as the final remaining competitor in the DARPA launch challenge. Our team decided to hold the launch at T-53 seconds after a sensor reported unexpected data that could have impacted the success of the flight. Out of our commitment to safety, and to increase the probability of overall success of the three-launch campaign, we have decided to prioritize fully investigating the issue over attempting to win the DARPA challenge today.

We are incredibly grateful to our team who have worked many late nights and weekends for the past few months to prepare our launch system for our first launch. We would also like to thank the team at DARPA, the FAA, and the team at Pacific Spaceport Complex for making an orbital launch attempt possible within a few days.

We remain determined to reach orbit and plan to attempt another launch attempt as soon as possible.  Thank you for the continued support as we move forward in our mission to observe, connect and improve life on earth.

ЦитироватьLaunch Attempt 1 DARPA Launch Challenge March 2, 2020

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220410.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv) DARPAtv (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIHBHRbvncMo7Bf0Vx1zEQ)

Трансляция началась 8 часов назад

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67520.jpg) (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1) Stephen Clark@StephenClark1 (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1) 3:08 AM - Mar 3, 2020 (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1234631797620793345)

DARPA's Todd Master, in post-scrub telecon: "We were really hoping to hand over a big check today, but we are very hopeful that the sort of things we put in place and the incentives we provided will continue to spur some innovation and get us to where we want to be."


3:15 AM - Mar 3, 2020 (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1234633566597898242)

DARPA's Todd Master: With DARPA Launch Challenge complete, our intention is to remove the payloads from Astra's rocket and return them to their prospective providers.


3:22 AM - Mar 3, 2020 (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1234635124668497920)

Astra's Chris Kemp: Expect another launch attempt in a matter of a week or two — not in the next couple of days and not in a couple of months. He says they will likely webcast the next launch attempt, which is expected to try to send a different payload suite into orbit.

Цитироватьtnt22 написал:
 

Цитироватьandr59 (//forum/user/17329/) написал:
Крис Гебхард пишет, что по словам Тодда Мастера было предотвращено столкновение с МКС. Во дают.

And the webcast is back. Update: Todd Master (Darpa Launch Challenger "master"): The collision avoidance was for the Space Station!

  https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1234599073233219585 (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1234599073233219585)  

Стандартная процедура COLA. Сдвинули время пуска с 20:30 UTC на 20:55 UTC. На Электроне в НЗ так часто делают во избежение...

ЦитироватьDARPA Launch Challenge Closes With No Winner

Final participant in original field of three qualifiers fails to launch following successful countdown procedure

OUTREACH@DARPA.MIL (mailto:OUTREACH@DARPA.MIL)
3/3/2020

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/197648.png)

Less than two years from its start, DARPA's effort to stress the approaches and processes associated with space launch ended March 2 with the lone Launch Challenge participant – Astra – scrubbing its launch with less than a minute left in the countdown before liftoff. Astra faced technical and weather-related issues during the roughly two-week window of the Challenge campaign, which ran February 17-March 2 in Kodiak, Alaska.

Meeting DARPA's timeline to demonstrate a flexible, responsive launch capability proved especially difficult. Despite time, weather, and location limitations, Astra produced a rocket and set up launch operations at Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska (PSC-A) after having received final target orbit information only 30 days before launch and payload upon arrival.

"In roughly two weeks, Astra moved their entire rocket and launch infrastructure from their facilities in Alameda, California, to Kodiak, Alaska, and the team set up all the equipment required to launch on a simple concrete launch pad and integrate a previously undisclosed set of payloads," said Todd Master, DARPA Launch Challenge program manager. "The preferred outcome was for us to see Astra accomplish two successful launches from two different locations within a short period of time. However, with Astra rapidly making it to launch day with minimal infrastructure and little knowledge of their launch conditions, we view the Challenge as achieving many of its goals."

Currently, space launch is a process that begins years in advance, and it relies on complex, expensive, and one-of-a-kind, fixed infrastructure. In 2018, DARPA challenged the space industry to do what no one has done before: launch payloads to orbit on extremely short notice, with no prior knowledge of the payloads, destination orbit or launch location, and do it not just once, but twice, in a matter of days from an austere launch pad.

Eighteen teams pre-qualified for the Challenge in 2018, and for the final event, three teams were selected, including Virgin Orbit, Vector Space, and Astra, which had been operating in stealth mode till February of this year. Virgin Orbit ultimately decided not to participate in the Challenge in order to focus on other commercial pursuits, and Vector ran into financial trouble late last year and closed business.

February 17, 2020, marked the opening of the first launch opportunity for the Challenge. Astra had four days for setup, and 14 days of potential launch windows to prepare, integrate, and then launch DARPA's prescribed payload to low Earth orbit. The campaign duration was allocated considering hard, yet achievable goals for flexible launch system operations and taking into account potential delays for weather and mandated crew rest. PSC-A provided two concrete pads with access to electricity and communications fiber in accordance with the Challenge guidelines. Ultimately, Astra was unable to launch within the Launch Challenge timeline, with its final attempt scrubbed due to an issue with the rocket's guidance, navigation, and control system.

"Flexible and responsive launch is critical for the Defense Department and its desire for space resilience, and the Challenge has advanced the growth of what is now a more capable launch marketplace to meet those needs than what we saw just two years ago," said Master.

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ЦитироватьДмитрий В. написал:
Кина не будет :-(

ЦитироватьСтарый написал:
Мы больше никуда не летим?

ЦитироватьКонкурс DARPA завершился без победителей
2 марта аэрокосмический стартап Astra Space предпринял попытку запуска малого носителя Rocket 3.0 с космодрома на острове Кадьяк. Однако за 53 секунды до зажигания двигателя первой ступени специалисты отменили старт из-за аномальной телеметрии. Это означает, что амбициозный конкурс Управления перспективных исследовательских проектов минобороны США (DARPA) остался без победителя.

Конкурс был инициирован в 2018 г. среди компаний, занимающихся созданием малых носителей. Для победы в нем требовалось осуществить два успешных космических запуска с двух разных космодромов на территории США с разницей не более чем в 30 дней. Дополнительно задачу усложняло то, что до самого последнего момента инженерам компаний-участников не была бы известна точная масса груза, предоставляемого для запуска DARPA.

К весне 2019 г. в состязании осталось три участника: Astra Space, Vector и Virgin Orbit. В августе у Vector начались финансовые трудности, в итоге приведшие к банкротству компании. В сентябре руководство Virgin Orbit приняло решение выйти из конкурса, мотивировав это стремлением сосредоточить все усилия на доработке носителя.

После того, как число участников сократилось до одной Astra, DARPA попыталась упростить ей задачу. Было объявлено, что компания может осуществить оба запуска с одного и того же космодрома при условии, если для них будут использованы разные стартовые столы.

Изначально, Astra планировала отправить ракету в космос 21 февраля. Однако из-за ряда технических проблем дата запуска несколько раз сдвигалась и, в конечном счете, была перенесена на 2 марта, являвшееся последним днем конкурса. Если бы Astra удалось запустить первую ракету, она бы получила 2 млн долларов. В случае успешного повторного запуска до конца марта компания удостоилась бы главного приза в размере 10 млн долларов. Но в итоге, эти деньги так и остались не востребованы.

Комментируя ситуацию представители Astra заявили, что победа в конкурсе безусловно стала бы отличным подспорьем, но на данный момент главное — это успешно отправить ракету в космос. Через несколько недель компании планирует предпринять новую попытку запуска Rocket 3.0.

ЦитироватьCapabilities on the cusp: the impact of a responsive, flexible launch challenge with no winner
by Todd Master
Monday, March 23, 2020

ЦитироватьCapabilities on the cusp: the impact of a responsive, flexible launch challenge with no winner
by Todd Master
Monday, March 23, 2020

Creating a flexible ("launch fr om anywhere") and responsive ("launch any time") space launch capability is a critical need for the Defense Department, with increasing importance as our views on national security space architectures evolve. Space resiliency is critical to our warfighting capability, and space access is its linchpin, as the means for deployment of our satellite systems. Resiliency for space access is directly created by untethering ourselves fr om one-of-a-kind fixed launch sites, which are subject to range congestion, weather, natural disasters, human-made disasters (like rockets blowing up on pads), and adversary attack. This resiliency is further bolstered by the ability to place in orbit new spacecraft at will, surging new on-orbit capability to provide tactical support to operations fr om space or rapidly replacing end-of-life, malfunctioning, or damaged spacecraft. Developing launch systems that deliver these capabilities is directly aligned with DARPA's mission of preventing strategic surprise, and led us to DARPA Launch Challenge.

At T-minus 53 seconds March 2, the Challenge ended without awarding a prize to the final competitor. The months leading to that that moment provided critical knowledge that will inform our work directly with transition partners across the Defense Department space enterprise on the near-term use of flexible and responsive space launch, a need DARPA has recognized as critical to national security in a changing space domain.

In late 2016, DARPA was closing out our Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (https://www.darpa.mil/program/airborne-launch-assist-space-access) (ALASA) program, where we sought flexible and responsive launch using a fighter jet as a staging platform. The program had encountered numerous technical problems and its scope had been reduced to what amounted to a study of propellant chemistry and characterization—short of our goals. At the same time, there was significant increase in private sector space investment and launch vehicle development. Would our organization, the Tactical Technology Office, simply give up on our goals and abandon our idea as too hard or no longer relevant? Or could we find a way to solve our problem by tapping into private sector developments and investment to achieve launch capabilities that addressed our vision for resilience?

ЦитироватьMany viable companies had no significant need for government development funding, as they already had private investments, and intended to retain all their intellectual property—often a point of contention in government-funded development. They sought government contracts, or any other form of government recognition, as it would aid them in attracting additional private funding.

At the time, there were several dozen launch vehicle developers at various stages of technical and schedule readiness. These companies were promising to develop approaches consistent with what DARPA had been after for the better part of three decades: systems that could launch on short notice from anywhere on the planet, enabled by "clean pad" designs that required minimal or easily transportable launch infrastructure, and advances in autonomous flight termination systems. It was unclear who among these companies could and would deliver (see "Responsive launch is still not quite ready for prime time" (https://www.thespacereview.com/article/3897/1), The Space Review, March 9, 2020.)

After extensive conversations in 2017, and bringing together industry and forward-thinking government stakeholders to discuss how to bring our goals to fruition, common threads emerged. Many viable companies had no significant need for government development funding, as they already had private investments, and intended to retain all their intellectual property—often a point of contention in government-funded development. They sought government contracts, or any other form of government recognition, as it would aid them in attracting additional private funding. They desired access to government test facilities and ranges at government pricing.

Multiple new launch vehicle developers assured us that they would launch their first missions by mid-2019, and that they would only need one to two days from setup through launch. We digested these inputs, and created something that would be beneficial to both industry and the Defense Department.

The genesis of a prize-based challenge to demonstrate flexible and responsive space launch

The feedback from our outreach led us to the conclusion that the conditions were ripe for a DARPA Challenge (https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/public/prizes) to address flexible and responsive space launch. The industry already had significant investment, a broad technical base, and a myriad of significantly different approaches to solve the same problem: delivering a payload to orbit in short order with minimal infrastructure and minimal pre-launch knowledge. An adaptation of their commercial product was directly applicable to near-term military goals, and as such, the winner of such a challenge would have a major leg up in future military procurements, giving companies the upside potential that could allow them to take the financial risks needed to participate in the Challenge.

DARPA leadership approved the prize competition with two critical stipulations. One was that DARPA would have no role in safety oversight or indemnification—we would rely on existing FAA regulations and commercial insurance. The other was that it would be completed in two years from the time that it was approved in early April 2018. The first of these stipulations was put in place with consideration of some hard lessons from the DARPA's 2006 FALCON effort and work with SpaceX at Kwajalein. And with a fast turnaround, DARPA Launch Challenge now represented a new approach for space launch for the agency: a low-stakes effort that could result in a big payoff.

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Challenge ethos: be safe, be fair

We created Challenge goals to be aggressive but achievable, and most importantly, relevant to military users. Responsive space could be a tactical enabler but only useful if capabilities could be delivered within a timely fashion.

ЦитироватьWith a fast turnaround, DARPA Launch Challenge now represented a new approach for space launch for the agency: a low-stakes effort that could result in a big payoff.

We debated internally what the right metrics should be. Should we require competitors to get to T-zero in a countdown test, or actually launch to orbit? How many times? How quickly? What was relevant to real-world tactical military use? What was achievable but impactful, given the current state of the art? What were the factors beyond our control that would drive schedule? What were the regulatory requirements? Could we literally launch from anywhere, and who would be the deciding authority? We considered all of these questions in our formulation. We took lessons from prior Challenges, incorporating two overarching principles into Launch Challenge goals from the start: be safe and be fair.

The scope of most challenges at DARPA required little interagency collaboration, as they were largely self-contained. This one was going to involve multiple government regulatory agencies: the FAA, the FCC, NOAA, and a slew of different safety organizations across the Navy, the Air Force, and NASA. We were biting off a lot, but we had the benefit of DARPA's "brand" within the government on our side, and I cannot overstate the willingness of other agencies to bend and flex in order to support our mission of high-risk, high-payoff technology investment for breakthroughs in national defense.

We considered potential competitors' stated capabilities, and balanced those against what would matter to military users. We considered factors that may be beyond their control during a launch campaign (e.g. range availability, air traffic, weather) and made accommodations in the Challenge timeline to allow for those. We examined the range and spaceport required timelines for integration, statutory requirements for government agency coordination and public notifications. We developed a set of guidelines—broad strokes of metrics and execution plans—that we later refined into a specific set of rules as we learned more about the regulatory flexibility we could get, capabilities of our potential sites, and timelines and technical characteristics of our competitors. We decided to require two launches in rapid fashion from two different locations, with as minimal pre-launch knowledge of technical parameters as possible.

Creating the right prize amount was critical to the Challenge. We had budget constraints to work within, and an intention to incentivize modification of commercial products and processes for our specific use case. We did not intend to duplicate industry funding, but desired to provide a compelling enough prize to get an interesting field of competitors. Typical prize competitions are not a cost recovery mechanism for competitors, but afford winners widespread recognition as top in their field, attracting both investment and customers.

In deciding what warranted a prize, we wanted the bulk of our funding to go to something that was directly relevant to a warfighter: capability on orbit, nothing less. We ultimately decided that one launch would meet a subset of our goals, but that a second launch was really required to show the full breadth of flexibility and responsiveness. We created a discrete qualification prize of $400,000, intended to offset some of the costs of applying for an FAA launch license. The real prize purse was allocated to successful launches, with a modest prize of $2 million for Launch 1, and the maximum extent of the Defense Department prize authority of $10 million for Launch 2. Our goal was, across all prizes, to cover opportunity costs for two launches for the median pricing in our initial expected field of competitors.

For the Challenge, we intentionally chose to use the commercial regulatory process governed by the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation, both for spaceports and launch vehicles to the maximum extent possible. In a future wh ere space launch will be used as a logistics service, the Defense Department would be best served as procuring these services on a commercial basis, rather than providing in-depth technical oversight and management of those services. When we ship packages by UPS or FedEx, we don't ask these service providers the details of their trucks and aircraft, their maintenance histories, or their parts and sparing plans—we simply pay for the delivery service to be timely and accurate and leave the rest to the shipper. That is how we would like to use space launch for on-orbit delivery.

Finally, we had to sel ect sites spanning the range of our competitors' approaches. As we had applicants considering horizontal launch systems—using an aircraft as its launch site or, for some, their first stage—we had to consider sites that could support both their approach as well as more traditional vertical launch vehicles. Within the United States, we considered all existing and projected commercial spaceports, military test ranges, and traditional space launch ranges. On the horizontal side, there were commercial spaceports in spades. On the vertical side, most were co-located on federal ranges, with the notable exception of Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska (aka "Kodiak"). This would ultimately have a big impact on our execution.

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Too many cooks in the kitchen: who decides what's safe?

We had set up a confounding problem for our competitors: they would not know which launch site they would be using until shortly before the Challenge began. This meant that they had to simultaneously obtain approvals to launch from any of our candidate sites. Our intention in setting up the Challenge was to use FAA licensing at all of our launch locations, something we had top-level agreements on from leadership at all of our sites. When those agreements were made, the sites assumed that the teams would have a few launches under their belt before the Challenge, conditions that changed through our course of execution. While true commercial FAA licensing encompasses flight and ground safety, in the cases of launch sites located on federal ranges, those ranges have responsibility and oversight for ground safety—a natural division of responsibility.

ЦитироватьUnfortunately, obtaining federal range approvals for agreed-upon waivers within the Challenge timeline became a bridge too far, primarily in consideration of the fact that we were working with never-before flown launch vehicles.

US government space launch ranges (both military and civil) have traditionally launched rockets designed with either insight or oversight of the US government as one of their customers. Bringing a new launch vehicle on to their ranges that they had never seen before, with no government personnel involved in its development, represented new territory. As such, the federal ranges struggled with constraining their role solely to ground safety, first dipping their toes, and then diving in, to flight safety elements of the vehicles. With three federal ranges from three different federal agencies (NASA, Air Force, and Navy) with three different sets of rules, this quickly emerged as a potential problem.

We brought all three agencies together, along with representatives from the FAA, to review their collective requirements and come to common agreement on how they could be met. These agencies already collaborate in the Range Commanders Council (RCC), which sets top-level guidelines for safety implementations that are then trickled down into agency-specific policies. These agencies agreed to evaluate the participating launch system at the RCC level of documentation, not the agency-specific levels. This was a great collaboration and perhaps the first time there was a direct forcing function to do so. The collective group came up with a common understanding as to what portions of their guidelines were critical, what didn't apply, and what could be waived.

Unfortunately, obtaining federal range approvals for agreed-upon waivers within the Challenge timeline became a bridge too far, primarily in consideration of the fact that we were working with never-before flown launch vehicles. As such, we effectively eliminated federal ranges from further participation in the Challenge.

We quickly looked at how we could still accomplish our goals with the remaining non-federal launch site candidate, the commercial spaceport in Kodiak. We ultimately concluded that we could stress our intended "hard problems"—short notice of payloads and orbits, minimal infrastructure, limited time to set up and launch—by using a separate launch location within the Kodiak spaceport. Moving 300 meters from our first launch location retained the same technical challenges as moving to a different launch site 5,000 kilometers away, minus a lot of planes, trains, and automobiles.

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The great paring down: wh ere rocket science meets timing

We started with 55 interested companies, pared back to 18 companies through our first round of information gathering, and then further narrowed to three competitors: Virgin Orbit, Vector, and Astra. All three passed Challenge qualification, satisfying DARPA that they had credible approaches that could be delivered in our timeframe and receiving license application acceptance from FAA/AST as "complete enough." Based on their projections in mid-2018, these teams all expected to be launching to orbit within the next 12 months, meaning the challenge would be right at the beginning of their commercial operations.

The Challenge timing was crucial, providing incentives right at the critical juncture of their development wh ere they could make minor course adjustments to stay both "flexible" and "responsive," before they became too entrenched in a business model that just favored one or two fixed launch locations with a large customer backlog to fulfill.

ЦитироватьWe've been asked if we would have another Launch Challenge. The answer is no, and for a good reason.

Ultimately, development timelines pushed all of our competitors' schedules to the right—not an uncommon reality in new launch vehicle development. As a result of this, by the time we got to Challenge execution, we had just one competitor remaining that was both ready and willing to launch in our timeline. Astra took a business risk, shifted their intended public engagement timeline, and opted to execute its first orbital launch attempt in the public spotlight of the DARPA Launch Challenge.

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BYOI (Bring-your-own-infrastructure): creating a launch site from a concrete slab in days

In Launch Challenge rules, competitors were allocated four days to set up their launch system. This meant creating and checking out both a complete launch infrastructure and vehicle. We intended this time for arriving, unpacking, checking out internal company network connectivity, and completing FAA and range-mandated rehearsals and contingency response procedures. The rules then allocated 14 days for launch attempts, which included accounting for delays for things like "red" range days due to bad weather or communications issues, mandatory crew rest requirements, and technical issues to be resolved. We made assurances to our teams that if they arrived on time, they would be guaranteed no fewer than four "green" days within the span of the campaign.

We knew our teams had initially said they needed one to two days from launch, and we wanted to afford them chances to be successful, remaining mindful that a timeline that moved from days to weeks to months would be less and less relevant to military users. Getting 14 days of air traffic closure coordination in advance was no small feat, and required a lot of negotiation with FAA. The impacts of the current way we enact closures for space launch to commercial business for both air and maritime are significant, and we flexed to the maximum extent realizable. We had some distinct advantages here at Kodiak, which had fewer air traffic routes to work around as well as the added safety benefit of sparsely populated areas around our launch corridor.

We informed our remaining competitor, Astra, that our desired launch date was February 17. This meant that they could begin setup as early as February 13, with range availability for launch four days later. Astra was completing its final testing on their first orbital vehicle, "Rocket 3.0," right up to (and through) the start of our window, ultimately shipping the vehicle by air transport on February 18. They had pre-shipped some of the ground infrastructure on February 14, and their team was busy preparing that for the rocket's arrival. Our rules did not require them to start on our start date but did not afford them extra time if they started after our initial date.

Astra worked through launch vehicle and ground system checkout, erecting the rocket on the launch site within just four days of its arrival. After pre-launch preparations (and a quick turnaround securing of the vehicle for a blizzard), on February 29 (day 13 of 14), Astra proceeded into a launch countdown, which was ultimately scrubbed due to weather conditions. March 1 was a "red" weather day, and despite having been given their allocated four "green" weather days over the course of the 14-day span, we opted to give them an additional launch opportunity on March 2. Astra successfully completed the majority of their launch countdown, and after a guidance sensor glitch at T-minus 53 seconds, they scrubbed their launch attempt for further troubleshooting.

Flexibility and responsiveness on the cusp: What we did, and what we learned

Astra successfully demonstrated that they had a flexible approach to space launch that allowed them to set up and ready a liquid-fueled vehicle and its entire supporting infrastructure within a timescale of days. However, the hardest part of the Challenge was delivering to orbit—something that was not yet demonstrated.

We've been asked if we would have another Launch Challenge. The answer is no, and for a good reason. Our intention through the Challenge was to inspire developers to create flexible and responsive approaches to space launch. During Challenge execution, we saw one team, Astra, demonstrate an approach that met our intention, with a rocket that appears on the cusp of capability. We saw two other teams whose architectures were well suited for the problem, with Virgin Orbit seemingly on the verge of executing their first launch as well.

ЦитироватьWe have lots of horizontal spaceports with few vehicles in development, and one true vertical commercial spaceport with many vehicles in development.

These developments are encouraging to DARPA, and we believe we can take the combination of what we've learned on the process side and effectively combine it with these launch vehicle systems. Through our relationship with US Space Force and US Space Command, we have come to a shared vision of the importance of flexible, responsive launch, and we're working to see how we can collaborate on future demonstrations in this mission area.

This requires a great deal of further discussion, but in the interest of brevity, here's what we learned:

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• The nation needs more commercial vertical spaceports that are not co-located on federal ranges. Launch companies need the certainty provided in FAA regulations, which allows the simplest path for transportability of licenses across spaceports. Federal ranges allow for flexibility through tailoring and negotiation, but that expends valuable time and resources that drive cost and schedule. We have lots of horizontal spaceports with few vehicles in development, and one true vertical commercial spaceport with many vehicles in development.
  
• We need to establish clearer lines of responsibility on launch approvals, and eliminate redundant functions between government agencies. Federal ranges that host commercial spaceports need to accept the limits of their responsibility, and avoid conflating safety with mission assurance.
  
• We need a real-time, data-driven approach to allowing integration of launch events with air and maritime traffic. We currently create broad hazard areas that impact airlines and maritime cargo and fishing operations for extended periods of time without regard to actual liftoff times or launch events, resulting in tangible financial impacts. These have been manageable with our current infrequent space launch cadence, but that time is rapidly coming to an end. These impacts can be reduced significantly with real-time data integration from spaceports and launch systems.
  
• We need further investments in autonomous flight termination approaches and space-based telemetry systems. Traditional approaches in widespread use today tether us to ranges and require time and resources to integrate, limiting both flexibility and responsiveness. Autonomous termination systems have been proven on a limited number of launch vehicles, but they must become the norm, not the exception. Space-based telemetry would allow further reduction in range requirements, promoting the ability to launch fr om truly anywhere and maintain situational awareness throughout flight.
  
• We need further investment and process changes in rapid mission planning. Current timelines for trajectory and dispersion analyses to be completed and reviewed are on the timescale of several days to weeks. These timelines will not support true responsive needs.
  
• We must consider how we can build satellites to favor robustness and ease of launch integration instead of dedicating every kilogram to maximizing performance. We used cubesat-class spacecraft on Launch Challenge, which did not require unique coupled loads analyses. This was a big enabler of our timeline and flexibility. Had we used larger, more complex spacecraft, the processes and timelines for coupled loads analyses would have quickly negated all of our plans. Shifting approaches on this will require new design ideas and a recognition that speed of launch integration to enable fast delivery to orbit is a unique and necessary quality.
  

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The Launch Challenge provided critical information that allows DARPA to proceed with future programs based on knowledge of what is working within the space domain, level-setting industry's abilities, and what we need to focus on next. We will work directly with our transition partners across the Defense Department space enterprise to understand the results that we achieved, and drive the nation to make near-term use of flexible and responsive space launch to retain and expand America's military leadership in space.

●

Todd Master is the DARPA Launch Challenge program manager in DARPA's Tactical Technology Office.

ЦитироватьRocket startup Astra trims staff to survive pandemic until next year
PUBLISHED SUN, APR 5 202010:24 AM EDT

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/140948.jpg) Michael Sheetz (https://www.cnbc.com/michael-sheetz/)@THESHEETZTWEETZ (https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz)

KEY POINTS

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• The company also recently lost one of its rockets in a fire during testing, the person said, with Astra not expecting to attempt another launch for a few months.
  

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Setback in Alaska

The company was preparing for its third orbital launch attempt late last month, with Astra getting its Rocket 3.0 ready on a launchpad in Kodiak, Alaska. But there was an anomaly during a prelaunch test, local officials said (https://kmxt.org/2020/03/anomaly-at-pacific-spaceport-complex-launch-rehearsal-no-injuries-as-a-result/). While no one was hurt, a person familiar told CNBC that a fire consumed Astra's rocket – a total loss.
...

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/140952.jpg)
An Astra rocket on the launchpad in Kodiak, Alaska.
Astra | John Kraus