spacetoday.net: Astra Rocket 3.3 launch fails

Posted: Sat, Sep 4, 2021, 12:57 PM ET (1657 GMT)
Astra's Rocket 3.3 failed to reach orbit Aug. 28 when a engine failed immediately after liftoff. The rocket lifted off at 6:35 pm EDT (2235 GMT) from Kodiak, Alaska, but suffered a failure of one of its five first-stage engines less than a second later. The rocket drifted sideways for about 15 seconds until it burned off enough propellant that it was light enough that it could ascend under the remaining four engines. However, the range commanded a shutdown of those engines two and a half minutes after liftoff because the vehicle was outside its approved corridor, terminating the flight. Astra said it didn't know why the engine failed, but didn't believe it was linked to a scrub the previous day when the engines ignited but shut down when their thrust failed to ramp up as fast as expected. Astra shares were down by as much as 25% in pre-market trading Monday morning.