Astra (American spaceflight company)

Astra Space, Inc., formerly known as Ventions, LLC from 2005 - 2016, is an American space company based in Alameda, California, with facilities in 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. 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. The company would have their first successful launch in 2021, nine years after the start of development, after 6 previous failed attempts.

Astra became publicly traded in 2021 through a SPAC merger. The company acquired Apollo Fusion, an electric-propulsion engine manufacturer, the same year. The acquisition enabled Astra to continue development of a spacecraft engine using a Hall-effect thruster (HET), known as the Astra Spacecraft Engine. Astra sells these spacecraft engines for use on satellites for station-keeping, collision avoidance, and end-of-life de-orbiting.

After four test launches of versions 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 of the Astra rocket, the company demonstrated orbital capability with version 3.2 of its design. Astra later conducted four commercial launches of version 3.3; two were not successful due to upper-stage issues. In 2022, Astra planned to increase the payload capacity of version 4.0 to around 600, compared with the 50 kg maximum capacity of version 3.0.

In November 2023, Astra’s co-founders proposed taking the company private, and in July 2024 Astra announced the completion of the take-private transaction.

In October 2024, Astra announced a U.S. Department of Defense contract valued at up to $44 million to support continued development of its mobile launch system and the 4.0 rocket.