California-based Astra has pushed back the Sunday, August 30 launch window for its Rocket 3.1 booster from the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island. The cancellation was for weather reasons. An earlier attempt to launch in August was scrapped after a ship wandered into downrange waters.
Astra communicated the delay via Twitter. Their plan was to look at launching from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each day from August 30 until September 3. Due to poor weather conditions, the launch window’s start was pushed back until September 10.
The rocket has already cleared a static hotfire test, which is essentially a dress rehearsal where engines are fired at full thrust.
Astra aims to provide inexpensive rides to space for small satellites with the 38-foot-tall Rocket 3.1 and its successors. The upcoming flight will not be carrying any payloads, as it is merely a demonstration mission.
They explain in their online mission description what the goals are: “For this flight, our first orbital attempt, our primary objective is to achieve a nominal first stage burn. If we make it this far, we’ll be happy with our progress and be well on our way to reaching orbit within 3 flights. The more we accomplish, the more we learn, and the closer we are to reaching orbit.”
Astra says that when they get closer to their September 10 launch window, they will communicate updates. Stay with KSRM News for continued coverage.