Astra

Astra

Astra

Astra

Astra

Astra

Astra

Time is running out for rocket company Astra to successfully launch its first orbital rocket and claim the first part of a prize offered by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. A three-hour launch window opens today at 3:30pm ET (20:30 UTC) for liftoff of Astra's "One of Three" rocket from a spaceport in Kodiak, Alaska.

Astra, which is based in Alameda, California, has been trying to launch the rocket for several days. On Friday, the company completed a successful wet dress rehearsal and on Saturday morning conducted a Launch Readiness Review with the Federal Aviation Administration. However, due to poor weather conditions, Saturday's launch attempt had to be scrubbed. Conditions were forecast to be worse on Sunday, so the Astra launch team pushed the attempt to Monday.

Weather has improved considerably for Monday's attempt. But certainly some technical issues are still possible. To try to set expectations for the launch attempt, the company says it has a "reasonable" chance to launch Monday, but with a new rocket, with a new launch system, and a new spaceport, there remains "some probability" of an issue that prevents launch today.

However, this is the last chance to claim the DARPA prize. The Launch Challenge—which seeks to demonstrate flexible and responsive launch capabilities in days, not years, for national defense—will close its first launch campaign on Monday. If successful, Astra will receive a $2 million prize and meet the prerequisite for a second launch later in March. The prize for a successful second launch is $10 million.

As reported in February by Ars, Astra is taking a unique approach to small satellite launch with a low-cost, no-frills rocket that accepts a low probability of failure. Astra is currently offering rides to space for about 100kg of payload for $2.5 million per launch. Eventually, however, the company wants to drive costs down to $1 million per launch.

The launch webcast below should begin at about 3pm ET.

Listing image by Astra