What Happened
US Rocket Company Targets Growth After Troubled Past
US rocket company Astra Space is seeking to raise $250 million in a funding round expected to close this quarter, as it looks to rebound from years of financial struggles. The company, once valued at over $2 billion, was taken private in 2024 after repeated launch failures. Astra is now betting on its mobile-launch rocket program and spacecraft propulsion business, with a new Rocket 4 vehicle targeting launches from 2027. According to CEO Chris Kemp, the company aims to offer militaries the ability to rapidly launch satellites from dispersed locations, making space assets less vulnerable to attack. This development was first reported by Reuters.