American startup Astra has carried out the third test launch of the two-stage launch vehicle Launch Vehicle 0006 (LV0006). Alas, this attempt ended in failure: it was not possible to achieve the set goals.
California-based Astra is the creator of a rocket with a length of about 11.6 meters, designed to launch small spacecraft into low-earth orbit. The first stage is equipped with five liquid engines. It is assumed that the carrier will provide a low cost of launching small satellites into space. After launch, the spent rocket should almost completely burn up in the atmosphere.
The first two rocket launches were completed last year, but were unsuccessful. The third launch took place from the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island (Alaska) on August 28, 2021 at 22:35 GMT, or 1:35 Moscow time on August 29.
It is reported that from the very beginning, the start went not according to the program. One of the five main engines shut off less than a second after launch, and the rocket began to deflect to the side. Then the carrier began to climb, but only reached about 50 km. Two and a half minutes after starting, all engines were turned off. The rocket failed to deliver a test load into orbit under a treaty with the US Space Force.
Astra regretted the failure, noting that during the launch, it was possible to collect a large amount of important information that will help in organizing subsequent launches.
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