If your system does not have systemd you may launch process manually:
astra -c /etc/astra/astra.conf -p 8000
Process will be launched in the foreground and your console will be taken by process until it finish. To stop process just press Ctrl+C on your keyboard.
To launching process in background append symbol &
after the command line:
astra -c /etc/astra/astra.conf -p 8000 &
Process will be launched in the background and console will be returned to your control immediately. To stop process you may launch command:
killall astra