Astra's stock takes wild ride after rocket launch

Astra (ASTR) confirmed on Twitter that the rocket had made it to orbit, but it wasn't immediately clear whether its payload — a group of small satellites for a variety of customers — safely deployed into orbit.

During a webcast of the launch, Astra's director of product, Carolina Grossman, warned that the company wouldn't know immediately if the satellites deployed safely, as the rocket wasn't in a position to send ground readings in the minutes after it reached orbit.