Astra expects to receive FAA license for Florida launch by Friday

Rocket builder Astra is preparing to launch from Florida for the first time as early as this weekend, with the company expecting to soon receive its Federal Aviation Administration license for a NASA mission.

The regulator plans to issue Astra’s license by Friday, the company said in a filing Tuesday, so Astra has scheduled time for the launch on Saturday.

Notably, this will be the first license the FAA issues under Part 450 – a new space industry framework designed to streamline the regulatory process for companies requesting both launch and spacecraft reentry licenses. Astra…