Rocket 3.3, the first Astra rocket to successfully launch to orbit, has successfully returned to flight in what was a closely watched mission just over one month after ELaNa-41 failed during fairing and stage separation. The launch took place on Tuesday, March 15 at 9:22am PDT / 16:22 UTC.
This mission for Spaceflight Inc., designated Astra-1, used the LV0009 vehicle to lift off from Launch Pad-3B at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska, which was where all of Astra’s test flights, including the successful orbital launch of LV0007, had occurred. Kodiak is the first of two active Astra launch sites, alongside Cape Canaveral which hosted the flight of LV0008 in February.