A California-based rocket start-up company called Astra is coming back to Kodiak for a launch at Narrow Cape this month.
Until last week Astra was still operating under “stealth mode,” meaning they weren’t publicizing their activities or announcing their involvement in previous Kodiak launches. Multiple tech and business profiles of the recently unveiled company have characterized Astra as a fast-paced operation, working quickly to design small, cheap rockets that can be produced on a large scale for frequent launches.
As Astra CEO Chris Kemp told Bloomberg Businessweek last week, quick, responsive product design means a lot of course-correcting as you go. “It would be unprecedented if this was a successful orbital flight,” he said. Kemp emphasized this is one of many launches they’re planning in an ongoing campaign.
Astra carried out two launches at Kodiak’s spaceport in 2018. Engines shut down in the second rocket shortly after launch, resulting in what the FAA deemed “a mishap.” Astra still called the launch a success, but the failed rocket scattered debris and spilled fuel around the launch site, requiring tons of contaminated soil shipped off the island.
On the spaceport side, Alaska Aerospace CEO Mark Lester says he can’t speak to Astra’s product development, but says he’s “elated” to have a regular commercial client looking to launch often from Kodiak.
“They want to be successful, we want them to be successful. I don’t think anybody’s in this business not to be successful … But I think everyone recognizes that space is hard, rockets are hard. And, you know, what they are trying to do, has been accomplished by very, very few companies, commercial companies in particular.”
According to Ars Technica, this upcoming launch is the first of five copies of Astra’s Rocket 3.0. Currently, it’s unknown when the other four would potentially be launched, or even if they would be launched from Kodiak.
The upcoming launch window is scheduled for 11:30 am to 3 pm on Friday, February 21. If for any reason the launch is canceled, it will be moved to the following day in the same time window. The launch window can be delayed three days in a row before the FAA requires the spaceport to take a rest day before trying again. Possible reasons for delay include high winds, thick clouds or other poor weather, technical delays with the rocket or safety concerns like a fishing boat straying into the blocked off waters around Narrow Cape.
Alaska Aerospace has put together a series of responsive communications strategies to make sure the community is aware of the launch window and that it impedes on daily comings and goings as little as possible. Along with updates on their websites and the usual road sign near the Rendezvous, he says there is a new launch hotline, 1 (833) PSCA-321, that community members can call to hear updates on scheduled launches.
Along with smaller aviation closures, Lester also notes that the three and a half hour launch window is the shortest they’ve had in some time. Morning and afternoon flights between Kodiak and Old Harbor should still commence as usual.
“We’re moving towards the right direction,” he said. “The feedback I’ve gotten from the aviation community is while it’s not perfect, and there’s still some room for improvement, we’re working together to then accommodate each other’s needs.”
Local fishing boats have also been contracted to maintain the waterway closure.