Astra Introduction Video from Chris Kemp on Vimeo.
Ashlee Vance also has a story at Bloomberg:
https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2020-astra-rocket/
Some interesting tidbits:
- Astra’s next launch is scheduled for Feb. 21 from Pacific Spaceport Complex — Alaska on Kodiak Island;
- previous two launches suffered in-flight failures;
- payload will be up to 450 lb (204 kg) to low Earth orbit;
- launch cost is $2.5 million, but Astra is working toward $1 million;
- the company is using aluminum and simplified engines to keep costs down;
- Astra has a staff of 150 people;
- Former NASA Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Chris Kemp is CEO;
- Astra’s CTO and co-founder is Adam London, who spent 12 years running Ventions;
- The company has raised more than $100 million from investors;
- Astra is the last of three companies standing in the DARPA Launch Challenge, under which it must launch twice from different locations in two weeks to win $12 million; and,
- Other competitors included Vector Space, which has filed for bankruptcy, and Virgin Origin, which decided to pull out.