Astra Unveils Rocket 4.0 at Astra SpaceTech Day 2022

Credit: Astra

On Thursday, May 12, during Astra's SpaceTech 2022 event, Astra CEO Chris Kemp unveiled "Launch System 2.0", a new larger launch system that includes Astra's new rocket, Rocket 4.0. It is about 20 feet higher than Rocket 3.3, 64 ft, and is capable of 300 kg to LEO (low earth orbit), 250 kg more than Rocket 3.3. Rocket 4.0 will fly from two current Astra launch pads, at Kodiak, Alaska, and Cape Canaveral, Florida, plus from a planned launch pad at the SaxaVord spaceport in Scotland, which is currently under construction. Astra continues to look for other spaceports. They want many launch sites all over the world, to launch to different inclinations. Launch System 2.0 can be set up anywhere in only a few days as long as they have approval. Rocket 4.0's first flight is currently planned to happen in Q4 2022. Rocket 4.0 will be Astra's seventh rocket, after two suborbital rockets (Rocket 1 and 2) and four orbital rockets (Rocket 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3). Rocket 3.3 was the first Astra rocket to reach orbit. Launching a payload on Rocket 4.0 will cost 4.1 million dollars, which is more than what SpaceX charges for a rideshare, 1 million. There is an advantage though, because then you get a dedicated mission, so if a more important payload is delayed, your payload isn't.