Back Astra (svemirska industrija) BS Astra Space Catalan Astra Space Spanish آسترا اروسپیس Persian Astra Space, Inc. French アストラ (航空宇宙企業) Japanese 아스트라 (우주비행 기업) Korean Astra (ruimtevaartbedrijf) Dutch Astra Space Portuguese Astra Space Russian

Astra (American spaceflight company)

This article is about the U.S. aerospace company formerly named "Ventions". For the space satellite operator, see SES Astra. For other uses, see Astra.

Astra Space, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryAerospace
Founded
  • October 2016 (2016-10) (ASTRA)
  • 2005 (2005) (Ventions)
Founder
Headquarters
Alameda, California, U.S.
Key people
Chris Kemp (CEO)
Adam London (CTO)[3]
Number of employees
100 (2023)
Websiteastra.com
Part of a series on
Private spaceflight
Active companies
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Astra Space, Inc., formerly known as Ventions, LLC from 2005 - 2016, is an American space company based in Alameda, California, with facilities in Sunnyvale, California and Atwater, California. The company was initially an aerospace technology research firm that focused on SBIR contracts, developing small rocket engines for use on launch vehicles and satellite propulsion.[4] In 2012, the company shifted to developing launch vehicles and was selected for the DARPA ALASA program, eventually leading to the development and launch of the Astra Rocket series of launch vehicle utilizing both government and private funding after reincorporating itself to Astra Space, Inc. in 2016.[5][6][7] The company would have their first successful launch in 2021, nine years after the start of development, after 6 previous failed attempts.[8]

Astra became publicly traded in 2021 through a SPAC merger, reaching a valuation of over $3 billion.[9][10] The company diversified to become a satellite propulsion manufacturer, acquiring Apollo Fusion.[11] However, continued failures of Astra space launch vehicles resulted in financial difficulties, and in 2022, the company discontinued its active launch vehicles, later ending development of its planned successor.[12] To avoid bankruptcy following over $750 million in losses, the company agreed to be taken private by its CEO and CTO in 2023, and the deal was finalized in July 2024.[13][14]

Astra currently markets an ion propulsion system, the Astra Spacecraft Engine, producing thrusters for small satellites including those of the Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture megaconstellations.[15]

  1. ^ "NOVI LLC". NOVI LLC. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Scaled Power Inc". Scaled Power Incorporated. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Team | Astra". Astra. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  4. ^ Astra. "Presentation". City of Alameda. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  5. ^ Foust, Jeff (2 June 2014). "DARPA Developing Operational Pathfinder for ALASA Air Launch System". SpaceNews. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  6. ^ Niederstrasser, Carlos G. (1 September 2022). "The small launch vehicle survey a 2021 update (The rockets are flying)". Journal of Space Safety Engineering. 9 (3): 341–354. doi:10.1016/j.jsse.2022.07.003. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Certificate of Conversion". California Secretary of State. State of California Secretary of State. 30 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  8. ^ Foust, Jeff (20 November 2021). "Astra's Rocket 3.3 reaches orbit on fourth attempt". SpaceNews. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  9. ^ Sheetz, Michael (5 April 2020). "Rocket startup Astra trims staff to survive pandemic until next year". CNBC. Archived from the original on 26 May 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  10. ^ Sheetz, Michael (2 February 2021). "Rocket builder Astra to go public via SPAC at $2.1 billion valuation after reaching space last month". CNBC. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Astra Acquires Apollo Fusion To Reach New Orbits | Astra". astra.com. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  12. ^ Foust, Jeff (5 August 2023). "Astra lays off, reassigns employees as it refocuses on satellite propulsion". SpaceNews. SpaceNews. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  13. ^ Sheetz, Michael (7 March 2024). "Space company Astra going private to avoid bankruptcy after dismal public run". CNBC. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Astra Announces Closing Of Take-Private Transaction | Astra". astra.com. 18 July 2024. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  15. ^ Werner, Sandra Erwin, Debra (18 April 2024). "Suppliers struggle as military embraces small satellites". SpaceNews. Retrieved 18 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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