Astra

Astra can refer to:

Religion and mythology

• Astra (weapon), supernatural weapon invoked in the Mahabharata and Ramayana
• Astra Planeta:
  • Children of Astraeus in Greek mythology, gods of the five wandering stars
  • The wandering stars, or naked-eye planets, themselves

Entertainment

Comics and manga

• Astra (comics), name of two otherwise unrelated Marvel Comics characters, from 1977 and 1999
• Astra (manga), series coauthored by Jerry Robinson in 1999

Movies

• Astra Film Festival, Romanian international documentary and visual anthropology film festival

Music

• Astra Chamber Music Society, a Melbourne, Australia concert organization, formed in 1951
• Astra (album), a 1985 release by Asia
• Astra, a 1990 composition by Charles Wuorinen
• Astra (band), an American psychedelic and progressive rock band

Toys

• ASTRA, American Specialty Toy Retailing Association
• Astra (Beanie Baby), a Beanie Baby bear toy produced by Ty, Inc.

Military

• Astra-Unceta y Cia SA, former handgun manufacturer based in Spain
• Astra missile, developed by India
• TR-3B Astra, a conjectured secret US aircraft, believed to explain sightings of the Black triangle (UFO)

Science and technology

Computers and telecommunications

• Astra, codename for a version of Trillian (instant messaging client)
• ASTRA, Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association
• ASTRA, Access to Systems, Tools, Resources and Applications, authorization system of the University of Washington
• SES Astra, Luxembourg company, formed in 1985, that operates the Astra satellite system
• Astra 19.2°E, satellite system operated by SES Astra, including:
  • Astra 1A, launched in 1988, long referred to as "the Astra Satellite"
  • Astra 1B, launched in 1991
  • Astra 1C, launched in 1993
  • Astra 1D, launched in 1994, later moved to Astra 28.2°E
  • Astra 1K, launched in 2002, but soon failed
  • Astra 1KR, launched in 2006 as a replacement for Astra 1K
• Astra 28.2°E, satellite system operated by SES Astra, including:
  • Astra 2A, launched in 1998
  • Astra 2B, launched in 2000
  • Astra 2C, launched in 2001
  • Astra 2D, launched in 2000
• Astra 31.5°E, satellite system operated by SES Astra, including:
  • Astra 5A, launched in 1997

Space

• Astra, one suggested name for a fifth planet (hypothetical) that became the asteroid belt
• ASTRA, Association in Scotland to Research into Astronautics, a Scottish space advocacy group

Other

• ASTRA (reactor), Adaptierter Schwimmbecken-Typ-Reaktor Austria, a type of nuclear reactor
• Astra AB, former international pharmaceutical company based in Sweden
• AstraZeneca, Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company formed by remerger of Astra AB and Zeneca Group PLC in 1999

Transportation

Automobiles

• Astra (1920 automobile), built by American company Dorris Motors
• Astra (1922 automobile), French cyclecar made by E Pasquet
• Astra (1930 automobile), shown by Belgian company Automobiles Astra, but never produced
• Astra (1954 automobile), built by British Anzani until 1959
• Vauxhall Astra, British GM brand since 1979, originally a version of the Opel Kadett
• Holden Astra, Australian version of the Nissan Pulsar, 1984-1989; version of the Opel Astra since 1995
• Opel Astra, produced since 1991; also known as the Chevrolet Astra and Saturn Astra

Bicycles

• Astra Bicycles, a line of French bicycles built by Motobecane in the 1970s

Rail

• Astra Vagoane Călători, Astra Passenger Coaches, Romanian manufacturer of rolling stock material

Aviation

• Société Astra, a major French manufacturer of balloons, airships, and aeroplanes in the early 20th Century

Other companies, organizations, and brands

• Astra International, Indonesian conglomerate
• ASTRA, a branch of Altrusa International, Inc for students between the ages of 12 and 25
• ASTRA, Asociaţia Transilvană pentru Literatura Română şi Cultura Poporului Român, a Transylvanian cultural group
• Astra, brands of beer produced by the Bavaria - St. Pauli Brewery
• FC Astra Ploieşti, a Romanian football club currently playing on Liga I

See also

• Ad astra
• Astro