Astra Rocket 3.3 launches NASA cubesats

2/10/22 ~ 3:00 p.m.

Astra's Rocket 3.3 launches for the first time from Cape Canaveral. The small 43-foot vehicle, the smallest orbital rocket ever launched in the U.S.,

departed Complex 46 at 3:00 p.m. EST with about 32,000 lbs of thrust, but failed at the point of first and second stage separation just over three minutes into flight.

These photos were taken with an extreme telephoto lens through a lot of atmospheric disturbance, from a little over five miles distance.