Enlarge / Eighteenth SpaceX Starlink mission streaks to orbit from the Space Coast of Florida on Thursday, February 4. (credit: Trevor Mahlmann / Ars Technica)
Welcome to Edition 3.32 of the Rocket Report! The Starship prototype SN9 gave us quite a week, what with the FAA drama surrounding its (eventually fiery) launch and hard landing, but let’s not forget the couple of small satellite-launch companies seeking public funding. With help from readers, we’re doing our best to stay on top of it all.
As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don’t want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.
Astra to become a publicly traded company. After very nearly reaching orbit during its second launch attempt in December, Astra announced this week it would be joining a “special purpose acquisition company,” or SPAC, that valued the company at $2.1 billion. The public listing is expected to take place in late 2021 when Astra combines with Seattle-area investment company Holicity. The stock would trade as ASTR on Nasdaq.
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