Astra Space is now preparing to accommodate the first of three NASA CubeSats launches as soon as June 12. These satellites will help monitor tropical storms.
The company was already ready for the launch on June 8 of the Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) cubists on their Rocket 3.3. vehicle from Cape Canaveral on June 12.
In fact, the TROPICS satellites and at least the first of three Rocket 3.3. vehicles have been ready for some time. Astra has already acquired the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launch license for a launch from Cape Canaveral in February via the agency's streamlined Part 450 regulations. Now, they are only waiting for the DAA commercial launch license.
However, the high rate of launch activity at the Eastern Range could be the cause of some delays. However, Astra reassures them that they're all set and ready, and nothing is on its way. All they need is the final details with the FAA, and they will be able to launch.
This marks the first of three NASA launches contract that was awarded to Astra Space. It will also be the first for Astra since the mission on March 15 that placed its first customer payloads into orbit and the second Astra launch to reach orbit on six attempts after a November 2021 launch. The reason the TROPICS mission requires three launches is to improve the revisit times.
The company is only waiting for its launch license, which is expected on June 10. Once the license is obtained, the company will start a series of launches for the TROPICS mission. The company also said that the launch window will open on Sunday.
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The TROPICS
According to NASA's Thomas Zurbuchen, an associate administrator for science, the launches would be two weeks apart. He added, "I love TROPICS just because it's kind of a crazy mission. Think of six cubists doing science, looking at tropical storms with a repeat time of 50 minutes instead of 12 hours."
The TROPICS will carry a microwave radiometer in each CubeSat that will gather information on temperature, humidity, and precipitation. Furthermore, the full TROPICS constellation will enable frequent revisits, which will be useful for tracking the growth of tropical storm systems.
Could It Be Successful?
Based on the Space Studies Board meeting, only two of the three launches are required to be successful in meeting their goals. And NASA has accepted this risk level. The agency knows that speed matters in the world of innovation, and they are eager to gain new assets and tools; hence, they embraced the risk associated with the vehicle.
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Written by April Fowell
