Astra
Astra test-fired its Rocket 3.3 vehicle Jan. 22 ahead of a launch from Cape Canaveral in the near future for NASA's VCLS program. Credit: Astra/John Kraus

WASHINGTON — NASA awarded contracts Jan. 26 to a dozen companies, ranging from industry stalwarts to startups yet to launch their first rocket, to provide low-cost launches of agency smallsats.

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Jeff Foust writes about space policy, commercial space, and related topics for SpaceNews. He earned a Ph.D. in planetary sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree with honors in geophysics and planetary science...