Space rocket with NASA satellites launched, but now lost in space

Astra rocket seen spinning out of control at fairing sep, payloads lost

Astra Space launches from Space Coast, but rocket last seen spinning in space

By RICHARD TRIBOU. ORLANDO SENTINEL| FEB 10, 2022

Astra Space successfully launched a rocket Thursday for the first time from the Space Coast, but the mission was a failure as the upper stage was last seen spinning in space with its ultimate fate unclear……….

The plan was to deploy four satellites for NASA a little more than eight minutes after liftoff, but cameras on board ahead of the deployment showed the second stage tumbling in space.

Speed and altitude data on the stream showed the rocket hit a maximum velocity of nearly 9,700 mph and continued to climb in altitude even after the malfunction, moving from 85 miles altitude when the fairing separated and last seen at around 140 miles altitude and climbing when data cut off on the video.

…………………… This mission, which was the culmination of $3.9 million awarded to the company as part of NASA’s Venture Class Launch Services Demonstration 2 contract was dubbed ELaNa 41, as in the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites.

The four CubeSats lost in space came from the University of Alabama (BAMA-1), New Mexico State University (INCA), the University of California at Berkeley (QubeSat) and NASA’s Johnson Space Center (R5-S1).

The company had looked to complete the first of what is planned to be many launches from Florida. Last week it became the first company to get Federal Aviation Administration approval for a new type of license that combines what previously required multiple licenses. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/space/os-bz-astra-space-launch-attempt-thursday-20220210-n7bxzytogrd2flsq7j4ajm6xqi-story.html