[5] Following the end of the ALASA program, development of launch vehicle technology and systems continued, producing the Rocket family.

The reorganized company proceeded to begin the development of a new carrier rocket, designed to be as simple and as inexpensive as possible.

The rocket was to be both very small and constructed of basic materials, in order to facilitate a goal of launching on a daily basis.

Additionally, it was to be transported in standard shipping containers and have a highly automated launch system that required as few personnel as possible.

[5] Only two people were required to launch the rocket - the pilot and the weapon system officer (WSO) of the F-15 carrier aircraft.

Rocket 3 was a 11.6 m (38 ft) launch vehicle that had a payload capacity of 25 kg (55 lb) to a 500 km (310 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit.

Three CubeSats for the U.S. Department of Defense and the University of South Florida, along with a space-based beacon designed to aid in space traffic management, were slated to ride into orbit on "1 of 3".

On 2 March 2020, DARPA and Astra officials said the Prometheus CubeSat, the University of South Florida's two Articulated Reconnaissance and Communications Expedition (ARCE) nanosatellites, and the space-based radio beacon payload were to be removed from the rocket after the end of the Launch Challenge.

On 20 November 2021, Astra's Rocket 3.3 vehicle (serial number LV0007) successfully reached orbit after launching from Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska (PSCA) carrying the demonstration payload STP-27AD2 (COSPAR 2021-108A, SATCAT 49494) for the United States Space Force.

[citation needed] On 15 March 2022, Astra Rocket 3.3 vehicle (serial number LV0009) successfully reached orbit with the Astra-1 mission.

After approximately 27 seconds of propelled flight, the rocket began to fall, exploding after hitting the launch pad.

Confirmation of the failure took place a day later when the Federal Aviation Administration stated that a mishap had occurred.

After approximately 30 seconds of powered flight, the Delphin engines began to fail, causing the rocket to fall and crash into the ground.

Partway through the series of tests, the supply of helium gas, used to prime parts of the rocket, was depleted.

After ascending for some 15 seconds, the rocket began to exhibit roll oscillation, which caused it to deviate from its intended trajectory.

The rocket successfully passed the Kármán Line and reached its target orbital altitude of 390 kilometers, a first for Astra.

However, due to issues with the upper stage's fuel mixture, the rocket failed to achieve orbit.

The rocket reached a peak altitude of 50 km (31 mi) before crashing into the ocean downrange of the launch site.

Astra determined a small propellant leakage from the launcher fueling system caused an explosion that disabled one of the five engines.

[69][58] On 12 June 2022, Astra Rocket 3.3 vehicle (serial number LV0010) failed to reach orbit after unusually high fuel consumption was observed.