Engineering:List of Vega launches

From HandWiki
Short description: Orbital launch vehicle by the European space agency

Vega rocket before liftoff with Sentinel-2A

Vega is an expendable launch system in use by Arianespace which was jointly developed by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the European Space Agency (ESA). Development began in 1998 and the first launch took place from the Guiana Space Centre on 13 February 2012.[1]

It is designed to launch small payloads — 300 to 2,500 kilograms (660 to 5,510 lb) satellites for scientific and Earth observation missions to polar and low Earth orbits.[2] The reference Vega mission is a polar orbit bringing a spacecraft of 1,500 kilograms (3,300 lb) to an altitude of 700 kilometres (430 mi).

The rocket, named after the star Vega,[3] is a single-body launcher (no strap-on boosters) with three solid rocket stages: the P80 first stage, the Zefiro 23 second stage, and the Zefiro 9 third stage. The upper module is a liquid rocket called AVUM. The improved version of the P80 stage, the P120C, is also used as the side boosters of the Ariane 6. Italy is the leading contributor to the Vega program (65%), followed by France (13%).[4] Other participants include Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden.[5]

Vega C was developed for a maximum of 4 launches per year.[6] A new ESA contract signed in 2024 aims to increase that by 50% to 6 launches per year.[7] Five launches are planned for 2026.[8]

Launch statistics

Rocket configurations

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Launch outcomes

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Orbits

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Past launches

Note: Date and time of start (as count-down zero, ignition or lift-off?) is listed in UTC. (Although local time at Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in Kourou, French Guiana, South America is UTC−3.)

2013–2019

2020–present

Future launches

See also

Notes

References

  1. "Vega". ESA. 3 February 2012. http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Vega/index.html. 
  2. Amos, Jonathan (13 February 2012). "Vega launcher makes first flight". BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16956324. 
  3. Malik, Tariq (13 February 2012). "Europe Launches New Vega Rocket on Maiden Voyage". http://www.space.com/14548-europe-launches-vega-rocket-maiden-voyage.html. "The Italian-built Vega rocket is named after the second-brightest star in the northern hemisphere" 
  4. Svitak, Amy (6 February 2012). "European Vega Small-Class Launcher Targets Government Market". Aviation Week. https://aviationweek.com/awin/european-vega-small-class-launcher-targets-government-market. 
  5. Clark, Steven (14 February 2012). "Vega launcher program courts German participation". Spaceflight Now. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1202/14germanyvega/. 
  6. https://ariane.group/app/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/Vega-C-users-manual-Issue-0-Revision-0.pdf
  7. https://www.avio.com/press-release/vega-contracts-future-operations-and-development-new-guidance-fy2024-order-backlog
  8. https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-awards-e350m-to-avio-to-boost-vega-c-and-develop-vega-e/
  9. Pietrobon, Steven (10 October 2018). "Ariane Launch Manifest". http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/space/ariane-man.txt. 
  10. "Vega Flight VV01". https://www.arianespace.com/mission/vega-flight-vv01/. 
  11. Kremer, Ken (February 13, 2012). "Flawless Maiden Launch for Europe's New Vega Rocket". https://www.universetoday.com/articles/flawless-maiden-launch-for-europes-new-vega-rocket. 
  12. "SECOND VEGA LAUNCH FROM THE GUIANA SPACE CENTER (Press Kit)". Arianespace. May 2013. https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/VV02-PROBA-V-VNREDSat-1-GB-1.pdf. 
  13. "Vega delivers three Satellites to Orbit to achieve second Success". Spaceflight101. 7 May 2013. http://www.spaceflight101.com/vega-vv02-launch-updates.html. 
  14. VERTA is an acronym for Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment and designates Vega's missions aiming "to demonstrate the flexibility of the Vega launch system" VERTA framework includes four ESA missions (PROBA-V, ADM-Aeolus, LISA Pathfinder and IXV), but also some missions of National Agencies (like ASI). Source: ESA (20 November 2013) VERTA Programme ASI (2015) PRISMA Precursore IperSpettrale (Hyperspectral Precursor) of the application mission
  15. "THIRD VEGA LAUNCH FROM THE GUIANA SPACE CENTER (Press Kit)". Arianespace. September 2015. https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/VV03-launchkit-EN2.pdf. 
  16. "Commercial liftoff for Europe’s smallest launcher". April 30, 2014. https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Commercial_liftoff_for_Europe_s_smallest_launcher. 
  17. Greg Delaney (22 June 2012). "Kazakhstan to launch sastellite on new Arianespace Vega vehicle". http://www.kazakhstanlive.com/2.aspx?sr=100&CatID=9f9f8034-6dd6-4f7e-adcf-0f6a7c0406d9&ProdID=888e9540-30fd-479f-a0ce-3f10d4a39b48. 
  18. "February 2015 | VV04 | IXV (Press Kit)". Arianespace. September 2015. https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/VV04-launchkit-GB.pdf. 
  19. Nagy, Attila (February 11, 2015). "Experimental ESA Spaceplane’s First Test Flight Was a Success (Updated)". https://gizmodo.com/experimental-esa-spaceplanes-first-test-flight-was-a-su-1685155435. 
  20. Bergin, Chris (3 July 2014). "ESA's experimental space plane gearing up for November debut". NASASpaceflight. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/07/esas-experimental-space-plane-gearing-november/. 
  21. "The Spaceport keeps pace with Arianespace's busy mission cadence". Arianespace. 17 October 2014. http://www.arianespace.com/news-feature-story/2014/10-17-2014-combined_missions.asp. 
  22. "ESA launch schedule". http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_schedule. 
  23. "Vega to fly ESA experimental reentry vehicle". ESA. 29 March 2013. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Vega_to_fly_ESA_experimental_reentry_vehicle. 
  24. "IXV – Intermediate Experimental Vehicle". http://www.spaceflight101.com/ixv.html. 
  25. "June 2015 | VV05 | Sentinel-2A (Press Kit)". Arianespace. September 2015. https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/VV05-launchkit-GB.pdf. 
  26. "Sentinel-2" ESA Retrieved 30 April 2014
  27. "Soyuz orbits Sentinel-1A on 7th successful launch from French Guiana". CNES. http://www.cnes.fr/web/CNES-en/11229-gp-soyuz-orbits-sentinel-1a-on-7th-successful-launch-from-french-guiana.php. 
  28. "Vega milestones". Arianespace. http://www.arianespace.com/launch-services-vega/milestones.asp. 
  29. "ESA books Eurockot Launch for Sentinel-5p Satellite". Eurockot Launch Services. http://www.eurockot.com/2014/01/esa-books-eurockot-launch-for-sentinel-5p-satellite/. 
  30. "December 2015 | VV06 | LISA Pathfinder (Press Kit)". Arianespace. November 2015. https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/VV06-launchkit-GB2.pdf. 
  31. "LISA Pathfinder overview". ESA. 10 January 2013. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/LISA_Pathfinder_overview. 
  32. "LISA Pathfinder enroute to gravitational wave demonstration". ESA. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/LISA_Pathfinder_en_route_to_gravitational_wave_demonstration. 
  33. Arianespace (September 2016). "Launch Kt | September 2016 | VV07 | PerúSAT-1 SkySats-4 to 7". https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/VV07-launchkit-GB-3.pdf. 
  34. de Selding, Peter B. (25 March 2015). "Vega To Launch Peruvian Imaging Satellite Along with Skybox Craft". SpaceNews. http://spacenews.com/vega-to-launch-peruvian-imaging-satellite-along-with-skybox-craft/. 
  35. "Vega To Launch Skybox Satellites". SpaceNews. 17 March 2015. http://spacenews.com/vega-to-launch-skybox-satellites/. 
  36. Arianespace (November 2016). "Launch Kit | December 2016 | VV08 | GÖKTÜRK-1". https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/VV08-launchkit-GB.pdf. 
  37. "Arianespace's Vega scores its eighth success in orbiting GÖKTÜRK-1 for Turkey". Arinespace. http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/arianespaces-vega-scores-its-eighth-success-in-orbiting-gokturk-1-for-turkey/. 
  38. Arianespace (February 2017). "Launch Kit | March 2017 | VV09 | Sentinel-2B". https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/VV09-launchkit-EN.pdf. 
  39. "Project main steps". CNES. http://missions-scientifiques.cnes.fr/VENUS/. 
  40. "Arianespace to launch OPTSAT 3000 and VENμS satellites". Arianespace. 19 February 2014. http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2014/2-19-2014-Contract-Optsat3000-Venus.asp. 
  41. Arianespace (July 2017). "Launch Kit | August 2017 | VV10 | OPTSAT-3000 Venμs". https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/VV10-launchkit-EN.pdf. 
  42. Clark, Stephen (2 August 2017). "Vega launcher achieves on-target deployment of Earth-imaging satellites". Spaceflight Now. https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/02/vega-launcher-achieves-on-target-deployment-of-earth-imaging-satellites/. 
  43. Arianespace (October 2017). "Launch Kit | November 2017 | V11 | MOHAMMED VI – A satellite". https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/VV11-launchkit-EN3.pdf. 
  44. "Vega VV11 • MN35-A". Spaceflight101. http://spaceflight101.com/events/vega-vv11-mn35-a/. 
  45. ESA Operations [@esaoperations] (22 August 2018). "Exact #Vega liftoff time of flight #VV12 with #Aeolus is confirmed as 21:20:09.478Z". https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032379307652395008. 
  46. "Launch Schedule". https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/. 
  47. "Wind laser survives extremes" ESA Retrieved 29 April 2014
  48. de Selding, Peter B. (22 May 2015). "Cost, Schedule Woes on 2 Lidar Missions Push ESA To Change Contract Procedures". SpaceNews. http://spacenews.com/cost-schedule-woes-on-2-lidar-missions-push-esa-to-change-contract-procedures/. 
  49. Arianespace (August 2018). "Launch Kit | August 2018 | VV12 | AEOLUS". https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/DDP-VV12-GB.pdf. 
  50. 50.0 50.1 "Arianespace orbits the MOHAMMED VI–B satellite on 13th successful Vega launch in a row" (Press release). Arianespace. 21 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  51. Arianespace (November 2018). "Launch Kit | November 2018 | VV13 | MOHAMMED VI – B satellite". https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/VV13-launchkit-EN.pdf. 
  52. Arianespace [@Arianespace] (21 March 2019). "Arianespace's first Vega flight in 2019 – and third overall this year – lifts off today from the Spaceport in French Guiana". https://twitter.com/Arianespace/status/1108826825327812609. 
  53. ASI. "PRISMA Launch Date". http://www.prisma-i.it/index.php/en/news/program/128-prisma-launch-date. 
  54. Arianespace (March 2019). "LAUNCH KIT March 2019 VV14 PRISMA". https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DDP-VV14-GB.pdf. 
  55. Bergin, Chris (10 July 2019). "Vega suffers her first failure during Falcon Eye-1 launch". https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/07/vega-suffers-her-first-failure-during-falcon-eye-1-launch/. 
  56. "Arianespace Flight VV15: Mission failure". http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/arianespace-flight-vv15-mission-failure/. 
  57. "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 2 September 2020. https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/. 
  58. "Vega flight opportunity for multiple small satellites". ESA. 22 February 2017. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Vega_flight_opportunity_for_multiple_small_satellites. 
  59. "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 14 November 2020. https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/. 
  60. Krebs, Gunter. "Ingenio". Gunter's Space Page. https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/ingenio.htm. 
  61. "Taranis". CNES. 29 June 2018. https://taranis.cnes.fr/en/TARANIS/index.htm. 
  62. 62.0 62.1 "Arianespace traces cause of Vega launch failure to "human error"". Spaceflight Now. 17 November 2020. https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/11/17/arianespace-traces-cause-of-vega-launch-failure-to-human-error/. 
  63. "18th Vega mission marks Arianespace's second successful launch in 72 hours". Arianespace. 29 April 2021. https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/vega-vv18-launch-success/. 
  64. "19th Vega mission demonstrates Arianespace's ability to deliver for the most innovative projects for the benefits of its clients". Arianespace. 17 August 2021. https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/vv19-vega-launch-success/. 
  65. "VV20: Arianespace's Vega launcher successfully orbits three CERES satellites" (Press release). Arianespace. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  66. "Building on its 2016 successes, Arianespace looks to the future with confidence at the service of its customers" (Press release). Arianespace. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  67. Atkinson, Ian (13 July 2022). "ESA launches upgraded Vega-C rocket on first mission". NASASpaceFlight. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/07/vega-c-debut-launch/. 
  68. Clark, Stephen (21 December 2022). "Two Pléiades Neo Earth-imaging satellites lost in failure of Europe's Vega C rocket". Spaceflight Now. https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/12/21/two-pleiades-neo-earth-imaging-satellites-lost-in-failure-of-europes-vega-c-rocket/. 
  69. Krebs, Gunter. "Pléiades-Neo 1, 2, 3, 4 (VHR-2020 1, 2, 3, 4)". Gunter's Space Page. https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/pleiades-neo.htm. 
  70. Foust, Jeff (2023-03-03). "Nozzle erosion blamed for Vega C launch failure" (in en-US). https://spacenews.com/nozzle-erosion-blamed-for-vega-c-launch-failure/. 
  71. "Flight VV23: success to the benefit of Thaland, Taiwan and cubesats" (Press release). Arianespace. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  72. Parsonson, Andrew (16 October 2023). "Two Vega VV23 Payloads Failed to Deploy". European Spaceflight. https://europeanspaceflight.com/two-vega-vv23-payloads-failed-to-deploy/. 
  73. "Arianespace to launch Europe's Copernicus Earth Observation Program Sentinel-2C satellite on September 3". Arianespace. 31 July 2024. https://newsroom.arianespace.com/arianespace-to-launch-europes-copernicus-earth-observation-program-sentinel-2c-satellite-on-september-3/. 
  74. Parsonson, Andrew (2023-12-04). "The Case of the Missing Vega AVUM Propellant Tanks" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/the-case-of-the-missing-vega-avum-propellant-tanks/. 
  75. Clark, Stephen (2024-09-05). "The Vega rocket never found its commercial niche. After tonight, it’s gone." (in en-us). https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/09/the-vega-rocket-never-found-its-commercial-niche-after-tonight-its-gone/. 
  76. 76.0 76.1 Foust, Jeff (3 March 2023). "Nozzle erosion blamed for Vega C launch failure". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/nozzle-erosion-blamed-for-vega-c-launch-failure/. 
  77. "CO3D" (in fr). CNES. 16 October 2023. https://co3d.cnes.fr/en/co3d-0. 
  78. "MicroCarb". CNES. 19 April 2023. https://microcarb.cnes.fr/fr. 
  79. "Arianespace to launch KOMPSAT-7 for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) using a Vega-C launch vehicle". Arianespace. 12 September 2018. https://newsroom.arianespace.com/arianespace-to-launch-kompsat-7-for-the-korea-aerospace-research-institute-kari-using-a-vega-c-launch-vehicle. 
  80. "CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - KOMPSAT-7". The CEOS Database. http://database.eohandbook.com/database/missionsummary.aspx?missionID=850. 
  81. Joseph-Gabriel, Daphné (2025-12-01). "Arianespace successfully launches KOMPSAT-7 satellite with Vega C". https://newsroom.arianespace.com/?p=48068. 
  82. "Smiles all round: Vega-C to launch ESA solar wind mission". ESA. 30 April 2024. https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile/Smiles_all_round_Vega-C_to_launch_ESA_solar_wind_mission. 
  83. https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile/Smile_approved_for_launch_in_spring_2026
  84. "Arianespace will launch Kompsat-6 with Vega C for Korea Aerospace Research Institute" (Press release). Arianespace. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  85. 85.0 85.1 85.2 "Arianespace supporting the European Union's Copernicus programme with Vega C" (Press release). Arianespace. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  86. 86.0 86.1 Krebs, Gunter (7 July 2020). "Sentinel 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D". Gunter's Space Page. https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sentinel-3.htm. 
  87. 87.0 87.1 "Arianespace awarded new Vega C launches for the IRIDE programme" (Press release). Arianespace. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  88. "Arianespace to launch PLATiNO 1 & 2 on Vega and Vega C" (Press release). Arianespace. 6 January 2022. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
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  96. "Status of the Current and Future ESA Earth Observation Missions and Programmes". CGMS-49. 14 May 2021. pp. 33–37. https://archive.org/details/cgms-49-esa-wp-06. Retrieved 27 August 2021. 
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