Nuked A rocket belonging to the up-and-coming Astra space company failed to deliver two of NASA’s weather-tracking satellites to space. Both satellites were lost as a result of the failure.
Astra’s launch vehicle developed an upper stage failure about 10 minutes into its flight. The launch was part of NASA’s mission to send six tropics satellites into space. These small, foot-long CubeSats are supposed to help NASA keep better track of developing tropical storms.
We had a nominal first stage flight. The upper stage shut down early and we did not deliver the payloads to orbit. We have shared our regrets with @ NASA and the payload team.
The upper stage shut down early and we did not deliver the payloads to orbit,’ Astra said in a statement on Twitter.’we have shared our regrets with @ NASA and the payload team,’ said the associate administrator for NASA’s science division.
It’s unclear if or when NASA plans on launching the remaining tropics satellites with Astra. Nasa did n’t immediately respond to the verge’s request for comment.
Astra first teamed with NASA in February to bring a set of CubeSats to space. Astra lost the payload after the rocket appeared to spin out of control after launch.
