Two CubeSats TROPICS take off on top of an Astra Rocket 3 from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cap Cañaveral Space Force Station. Credit: NASASpaceflight / Astra
The mission of time-resolved observations of the structure of precipitation and the intensity of the storm with a constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) of NASA is a constellation of observation platforms of the state of the science that will measure temperature, humidity and precipitation at high resolution and with unprecedented frequency.
Yesterday, June 12, 2022, two CubeSats TROPICS took off aboard an Astra 3 rocket from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch took place at approximately 13:43 EDT. Things seemed to be going well at first, but after a nominal flight of the first stage, the upper stage of the rocket closed soon and could not bring the CubeSats TROPICS into orbit.
Shortly after the failure, Astra tweeted: “We had a nominal flight of the first stage. The upper stage closed soon and we did not deliver the payloads into orbit. We shared our grief with @NASA and l “More information will be provided after completing a full data review”.
Three pairs of satellites form the constellation TROPICS and will work together to provide microwave observations of storms on Earth, measuring the precipitation, temperature, and humidity of a storm as often as every 50 minutes. Credit: NASA
NASA reports that while they are disappointed with the loss of the two CubeSats TROPICS, the mission is part of NASA’s Earth Adventure Program, which offers opportunities for lower-cost, higher-risk missions. Despite the loss of the first two of the six satellites, the constellation TROPICS will still meet its scientific objectives with the remaining four CubeSats distributed in two orbits. With four satellites, TROPICS will still provide improved time-resolved tropical cyclone observations compared to traditional observation methods.
TROPICS is a business mission to Earth: low-cost, science-driven, competitively selected missions that offer investment opportunities in innovative Earth sciences to improve our ability to better understand the current state of the Earth. terrestrial system and to enable continuous improvement in the prediction of future changes.
A rocket camera shows an exhaust plume at the time the engine shut down prematurely. Credit: NASASpaceflight / Astra
Because the agency works with emerging launch providers to achieve cost-effective launch capabilities in space, such missions are important to expanding our scientific knowledge while fostering the U.S. commercial launch industry.
As a mission licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the FAA and Astra will lead the investigation to understand what happened during the launch of TROPICS-1. NASA will provide any necessary experience, but would expect to stop the launch effort with Astra while an investigation is underway to make sure we are moving forward when it is ready.
NASA’s launch service program, which manages the mission’s launch service, continues to work with emerging launch providers to deliver low-cost scientific missions into orbit with contracts that align with commercial practices, using less oversight. of NASA to achieve lower launch costs. Small satellites and Class D payloads tolerate relatively high risk and serve as an ideal platform for technical and architectural innovation, contributing to NASA’s scientific research and technological development.
Thanks to the transparency shown by Astra, NASA has been involved in the investigation of Astra’s previous launch. In addition, we participated in discussions about lessons learned and corrective actions. We recognize the risks inherent in a new launch provider and will provide our assistance as needed.
NASASpaceflight and Astra have teamed up to stream this mission launch.