Astra Secures $44 Million Defense Contract for Rocket 4 Development

The embattled space company aims for a 2025 launch as it rebounds with a new Department of Defense contract.

Astra has won a contract from the Defense Innovation Unit worth up to $44 million to support the development of its Rocket 4 launch vehicle.
The funding will aid in the industrialization of Astra's production facilities and support the creation of a tactically responsive launch system.
Astra's Rocket 4 is designed to carry payloads of up to 600 kilograms to low-Earth orbit, with a planned launch by the end of 2025.
The company, which faced financial struggles and was taken private earlier this year, sees this contract as crucial to its recovery and future success.
Astra plans to raise an additional $50 million in a new funding round to further support its operations and development goals.