Astra

Scaling Space Infrastructure Requires More Than Engineering

Astra designs and manufactures launch systems and propulsion technologies that support some of the most demanding aerospace missions in the world. Working with government agencies and large commercial partners, Astra operates in an environment defined by long development cycles, milestone-based payments, and significant upfront production costs.

As demand increased and programs expanded, Astra faced a familiar challenge for high-growth aerospace companies: strong contracted revenue paired with delayed cash inflows. While orders were secured, capital was often locked up for months, creating friction between engineering timelines, supplier payments, and future production planning.

The Challenge: Long Payment Terms and Capital Visibility

Astra’s contracts frequently included net payment terms tied to delivery or performance milestones. While these structures are standard in aerospace and defense, they create cash flow gaps that can slow momentum — especially when multiple programs run in parallel.

Without a unified view of invoices, milestones, and expected payments, it became increasingly difficult to forecast when capital would return and how aggressively the company could invest in the next phase of growth.

Astra needed a solution that could:

• Provide real-time visibility into operational and financial milestones
• Forecast cash flow across multiple active programs
• Unlock capital already earned — without relying on equity dilution or rigid financing structures

The Solution: Capital Intelligence with Embedded Working Capital

By adopting Klear, Astra connected its operational documents, invoices, and project milestones into a single system of record. This gave leadership a clear, real-time view of what had been sold, what was in production, and when payments were expected.

With this visibility in place, Astra was able to access working capital directly through Klear by selling eligible invoices. Instead of waiting on net terms, Astra could reinvest capital immediately to fund suppliers, production, and engineering resources — keeping programs moving at full speed.

Klear’s approach allowed Astra to:

• Forecast cash needs with greater accuracy
• Access capital tied to approved invoices
• Maintain control over operations without introducing unnecessary complexity

The Impact: Faster Growth Without Compromise

With improved cash flow visibility and access to working capital, Astra accelerated production timelines and supported rapid growth across multiple programs. The company was able to scale delivery while preserving operational control and avoiding the tradeoffs typically associated with traditional financing options.

By using Klear as a capital intelligence layer across its operations, Astra transformed cash flow from a constraint into a strategic advantage — supporting continued innovation in one of the world’s most demanding industries.

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