After earning a degree in aeronautics in German-occupied Czechoslovakia, he worked as an engineer on the development of the Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe jet fighter during World War II.
Astl arrived in the United States in April 1949 and worked in Baltimore, Maryland at a series of odd jobs including in a shoe factory, a printing plant and as a movie theater projectionist.
In 1955, he obtained American citizenship and moved to the San Diego, California where he was employed as an aeronautical engineer with Rohr, Inc. working on the Lockheed Electra.
His other major contribution was a proposed high-explosive test facility on the bluffs above La Jolla at Torrey Pines, San Diego.
Jerry worked alongside Morris Scharff and Brian Dunne on the explosive experiments for Project Orion.