Astra
Astra Space is an American launch and spacecraft-propulsion company that developed small orbital rockets with a goal of frequent, low-cost launches for small satellites.
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Alameda, United States
- Ownership
- Private
- Total raised
- $355M
- Last valuation
- $2.1B
- Last round
- SPAC · $500M2021-07
- Investors
- 2
Quick Facts
About Astra
Astra Space is an American launch and spacecraft-propulsion company that developed small orbital rockets with a goal of frequent, low-cost launches for small satellites. Founded in 2016 in Alameda, California, and led by CEO Chris Kemp and CTO Adam London, Astra went public via SPAC in 2021 at a $2.1B valuation. The company's Rocket 3.3 achieved orbit in November 2021 but suffered multiple launch failures. Astra's Rocket 4 development was abandoned in 2022 after two LV008 failures.
In July 2023, Astra announced it was suspending launch vehicle development indefinitely and laid off most of its staff, effectively shutting down the launch business. Co-founders Chris Kemp and Adam London took the company private at $0.50 a share in July 2024. It now builds satellite electric-propulsion systems (from the 2021 Apollo Fusion acquisition), reported 2025 revenue of about $45 million at breakeven EBITDA, shipped its 110th engine system in January 2026, and is developing Rocket 4 under a Defense Innovation Unit contract worth up to $44 million, with a first flight targeted for 2026.
Products and product lines
| Product | Line | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rocket 4 | Launch vehicle (in development) | Expendable small-lift vehicle designed to place up to 600 kg in low Earth orbit; Astra is targeting a first test flight in 2026 from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 48. |
| Launch System 2 | Launch infrastructure | Mobile, tactically-responsive ground and launch system supporting Rocket 4, developed with Defense Innovation Unit funding. |
| Astra Spacecraft Engine | Satellite propulsion | Electric propulsion system (from the 2021 Apollo Fusion acquisition); Astra shipped its 110th unit since January 2025 with 100% mission reliability reported to date. |
| Rocket 3.3 | Launch vehicle (retired) | Achieved Astra's only orbital successes (2 of 7 attempts) before the Rocket 3 line was retired. |
Timeline
- 2024 Co-founders Chris Kemp and Adam London announce on 7 March an agreement to take Astra private at $0.50/share in cash, with the board saying the deal is the only alternative to bankruptcy. [source]
- 2024 The take-private deal closes on 18 July, ending Astra's three-year run as a Nasdaq-listed company after its 2021 SPAC merger. [source]
- 2024 The Defense Innovation Unit awards Astra a contract worth up to $44 million on 23 October to support Rocket 4 and Launch System 2 development, including automated laser welding and production scale-up. [source]
- 2025 Dr. Alan Weston joins Astra as Head of Launch in March, as the company continues Rocket 4 development toward a 2026 test flight. [source]
- 2025 Astra reports 2025 revenue of $45 million, up about 700% year-over-year, and reaches breakeven EBITDA, driven by its satellite engine business. [source]
- 2026 Astra announces on 20 January that it has shipped its 110th satellite engine system since 1 January 2025 with 100% mission reliability, and closed $13 million in Q4 2025 contracts for 36 more systems. [source]
- 2026 Astra continues targeting a mid-to-late-2026 first flight of Rocket 4 as it works to re-enter the orbital launch market. [source]
Chris Kemp (CEO, Co-founder)
Funding history
1 event · $355M raisedInvestors
From the sourced rounds above. Investors with two or more deals in the directory link to a portfolio page.
Team
Signals
- Verification
- Verified 2026-09-06
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Frequently asked about Astra
Quick answers to the questions readers most often search for.
- When was Astra founded?
- Astra was founded in 2016 in United States.
- Where is Astra headquartered?
- Astra is headquartered in Alameda, United States.
- What does Astra do?
- Astra Space is an American launch and spacecraft-propulsion company that developed small orbital rockets with a goal of frequent, low-cost launches for small satellites. Founded in 2016 in Alameda, California, and led by CEO Chris Kemp and CTO Adam London, Astra went public via SPAC in 2021 at a $2.1B valuation. The co…
- Is Astra a public or private company?
- Astra is a privately held company and is not listed on any stock exchange.
- What sector does Astra operate in?
- Astra works in launch services, Launch vehicles and Propulsion, plus 2 other space-industry sectors.
Sources
The structured fields on this page (founding year, location, sector, status, listing) and the profile text are drawn from the sources below. How profiles are drafted and checked is described in our methodology.
- Official website (www.astra.com)
- Company LinkedIn page
- Wikidata / Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-09-05
- Via Satellite: Astra Founders to Take the Company Private (8 Mar 2024) · retrieved 2026-09-06
- SpaceNews: Astra completes deal to go private · retrieved 2026-09-06
- Astra: Department of Defense Awards Astra Contract Valued Up to $44 Million · retrieved 2026-09-06
- Astra: Astra Ships 110 Satellite Engines, Focuses on 2026 Test Flight of New Rocket (20 Jan 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-06
- SpaceNews: Astra plans mid-2026 first launch of Rocket 4 · retrieved 2026-09-06
- Funding: SPAC merger with Holicity Inc (2021-07-01) · retrieved 2026-09-04
Data Accuracy Notice: Information about Astra is compiled from publicly available sources including company websites, press releases, regulatory filings, and industry reports. Data is reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments.