Astra's second attempt to deliver NASA tropical satellites to space fails again

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Astra attempted to launch a pair of NASA miniature satellites into orbit Sunday – the first of three planned tests -- to observe and study tropical storms, but the "upper stage shut down early and we did not deliver the payloads to orbit."

"We have shared our regrets with @NASA and the payload team. More information will be provided after we complete a full data review," Astra said in a tweet shortly after launch.

The countdown was briefly held Sunday after teams experienced an issue and sought to resolve it. The countdown continued and the rocket successfully lifted toward Earth, but failed to deliver the payload – the second unsuccessful delivery for Astra's team.

Astra and NASA partnered on NASA's TROPICS mission – Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats – which would be able to study "the formation and development of tropical cyclones at almost every hour."

That's four to six times more often than current satellites, according to NASA.

In February 2022, Astra Space launched its first rocket from Florida, but it also failed to deliver the payload to orbit.