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Space Agencies and Companies

Astra Space

Launch and Space Transportation Companies

Astra Space, Inc. is an American aerospace company headquartered in Alameda, California, that develops small-lift launch vehicles and spacecraft propulsion systems. It was founded in October 2016, building on an earlier company called Ventions, LLC established in 2005, led by chief executive Chris Kemp and chief technology officer Adam London. Astra reached orbit for the first time in November 2021 with its Rocket 3.3 vehicle, after six earlier launch attempts had failed, and the company also produces Hall-effect thrusters for satellite station-keeping and deorbiting through its 2021 acquisition of Apollo Fusion. Astra went public through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company in July 2021 and returned to private ownership in July 2024; in October 2024 the US Department of Defense awarded it up to 44 million dollars to develop its next launch vehicle, Rocket 4.

Facts
Agency Type
American space company 1
Founded Year
2016 1
Operated as Ventions, LLC, an aerospace technology research firm, from 2005 before reincorporating as Astra Space, Inc. in 2016; founded-year here records the Astra Space, Inc. reincorporation.
Headquarters
Alameda, California, United States 1
Head
Chris Kemp (CEO) 1
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Astra Space
Wikipedia
  • lead paragraph, sentence 1
    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.
  • lead paragraph, sentence 3, reincorporation clause
    after reincorporating itself to Astra Space, Inc. in 2016
  • lead paragraph, sentence 1, headquarters clause
    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.
  • infobox field key_people, first entry
    Chris Kemp (CEO)
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