Live coverage: Debut of Astra’s small satellite launcher set for Monday

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From SpaceFlightNow.com:
"DARPA plans a live webcast of the final countdown and flight of Astra’s Rocket 3.0. The webcast is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. EST (11 a.m. Alaska time; 2000 GMT) Monday, March 2, and will be available on this page:"

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/02/29/a ... us-center/

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UPDATE:

"DARPA says today's launch time has been postponed a bit to ensure Astra's rocket does not get too close to another object already in orbit. A new launch time has not been announced."

Apparently, there is a 3 hour launch window today, starting at 11:30 AM Alaska Time (3:30 PM EST).
I will update with the new launch time, when it is posted.

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The new launch time has been announced as 11:55 AM Alaska time, 3:55 PM EST.

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Hold called at about T minus 53 seconds, by Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC).

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UPDATE OF 5:15 PM EST:

"Todd Master, manager of DARPA's Launch Challenge, says Astra engineers continue assessing "off-nominal" data from the rocket's guidance, navigation and control system.

In the meantime, teams at Kodiak Island have replaced a suspect ground transmitter that would be used to send a destruct command to the rocket in the event of a major problem after liftoff.

Technicians from Astra also entered the pad -- where the rocket remains fueled with kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants -- to reconfigure some helium pressurization bottles. This enables Astra to remain on standby for a possible launch before the end of today's window at 6:30 p.m. EST (2330 GMT; 2:30 p.m. Alaska time), assuming engineers can resolve the guidance, navigation and control issue that caused the countdown hold earlier today."

It remains uncertain if the launch will be carried out today, but they continue to work, and have not yet scrubbed the launch. However, I cannot remain online watching any more today. I wish Astra the best of luck with their launch - I certainly hope they win the $2M DARPA Launch Prize.

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Here's a statement from Astra after today's scrub:

"Today, Astra began countdown of the first orbital launch as the final remaining competitor in the DARPA launch challenge. Our team decided to hold the launch at T-53 seconds after a sensor reported unexpected data that could have impacted the success of the flight. Out of our commitment to safety, and to increase the probability of overall success of the three-launch campaign, we have decided to prioritize fully investigating the issue over attempting to win the DARPA challenge today.
"We are incredibly grateful to our team who have worked many late nights and weekends for the past few months to prepare our launch system for our first launch. We would also like to thank the team at DARPA, the FAA, and the team at Pacific Spaceport Complex for making an orbital launch attempt possible within a few days.
"We remain determined to reach orbit and plan to attempt another launch attempt as soon as possible. Thank you for the continued support as we move forward in our mission to observe, connect and improve life on Earth."

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Today's article from Ars Technica:
"It’s make or break for Astra today in the government’s launch challenge"

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03 ... challenge/

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It appears that the launch scrub yesterday meant that Astra did not win the $2M DARPA Launch Challenge.

Here's an article from GeekWire.com from today:
"‘Didn’t quite make it’: Data glitch forces Astra to miss out on $2M DARPA Launch Challenge prize"

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/didnt-qui ... nge-prize/

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[GCoyote]

Too bad, but in the satellite launch business they will have to get used to $2 million dollar hiccups.

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Here's an upbeat analysis article from Ars Technica today:
"Astra came close to achieving what DARPA has sought for two decades"

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03 ... continues/

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[notFritzArgelander]

Here's an upbeat analysis article from Ars Technica today:
"Astra came close to achieving what DARPA has sought for two decades"

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03 ... continues/

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Nice article. I note pleasure and surprise that folks doing the right thing and not just going for the check. That's all too rare these days and to be commended.