Posted: Fri, Nov 26, 2021, 7:21 AM ET (1221 GMT)
Small launch vehicle developer Astra reached orbit on its fourth attempt early Saturday. The company's Rocket 3.3 vehicle lifted off from Kodiak Island, Alaska, at 1:16 am EST (0616 GMT) Saturday and reached orbit nearly nine minutes later. The rocket was carrying a test payload for the U.S. Space Force that remained attached, as planned, to the rocket's upper stage. Three previous launches of Astra rockets, dating back to September 2020, failed to reach orbit.

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