Astra chief engineer resigns in another blow for beleaguered rocket builder

Beleaguered rocket-builder Astra is losing its highly touted main engineer, Benjamin Lyon, the institution said successful a securities filing Friday.

Lyon resigned from his relation arsenic Astra's main technologist and enforcement vice president of operations and engineering connected Monday, the institution said. The institution said helium is leaving to prosecute different accidental and that his past time is expected to beryllium Dec. 27.

In a statement, Astra CEO Chris Kemp thanked Lyon "for his work and contributions."

"We are grateful to Benjamin for his stewardship successful taking Astra to orbit, and helping physique a world-class engineering and operations organization," Kemp said.

Shares of Astra were small changed successful pre-market trading, from its erstwhile adjacent of 52 cents a share.

After disclosing Lyon's departure, Astra announced a quartet of promotions to its absorption team. The 4 caller Astra programme leads: Giovanni Greco connected Launch System Delivery, Jonathan Donaldson connected Spacecraft Engine Delivery, Doug Kunzman connected Launch and Test Operations, and Bryson Gentile connected Manufacturing.

Lyon joined Astra successful February 2021 from Apple, wherever helium had worked successful improvement for products including the iPhone and Mac.

But Astra is facing an uphill conflict aft the institution pivoted distant from its Rocket 3.3 conveyance aft a mid-flight failure, and decided to intermission launches to physique a larger, upgraded rocket. The institution announced a layoff of 16% of its workforce connected Nov. 11, arsenic it works to trim operating expenses arsenic it moves guardant with improvement work.

In October, Astra vice president of communications Kati Dahm near the company, and past period Chief Financial Officer Kelyn Brannon transitioned retired of her role, with the institution bringing successful Axel Martinez arsenic CFO from Virgin Hyperloop One.

Astra banal is down 92% this twelvemonth arsenic of Thursday's close. The company received a de-listing informing from the Nasdaq successful October after its banal fell beneath $1 a share. The institution has until April to assistance the banal terms backmost supra the level.