A0099/13 - TEMPORARY DANGEROUS AREA ACTIVATED DUE TO ROCKET LAUNCHINGARIANE ZA/VV02-602 VEGALATERAL LIMITS AS FOLLOWS QUADRILATERAL:0905N05251W 0905N05240W 0833N05240W 0833N05251W. AMSL - UNL, DAILY 0106-0306,03 MAY 01:06 2013 UNTIL 13 MAY 03:06 2013. CREATED: 18 APR 12:41 2013
R0029/13 - WEST PACIFIC DANGEROUS ZONE IS DECLARED DUE TO SPACE RE-ENTRY ACTIVITY THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY GEO COORD:330800S/0931200W330600S/0913100W442900S/0881500W444000S/0895700WINFO PROVIDED BY EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY[..] SFC - UNL, 03 MAY 04:302013 UNTIL 03 MAY 06:30 2013. CREATED: 18 APR 14:25 2013
The second Vega launch marks the transition to commercial exploitation, showcasing a mature launcher with increased capabilities and flexibility to meet the different demands of the launchers market. On 3 May, Vega flight VV02 will demonstrate extended capabilities made possible in part by the addition of the Vespa payload adapter. The Vespa, or ‘Vega Secondary Payload Adapter’, can carry multiple payloads and, on this mission, it will release three satellites into two different orbits.
Compared to the first Vega flight, VV02 will change both the inclinations and the orbital altitudes for the satellites. This is a complex procedure and will result in a much longer mission – at 160 minutes it is more than double that of VV01. Proba-V will be the first payload released by Vespa into a Sun-synchronous orbit at 820 km altitude and an inclination of 98.73º. At this point, the Vespa adapter will separate and Vega then, through a series of five burns and coasts, will move into a second orbit at 668 km altitude and an inclination of 98.13º for the two remaining satellites. A final burn will deorbit the upper stage to ensure that it does not remain as a debris threat. In addition to the Vespa adapter, this second Vega launcher also has new flight software. To receive telemetry during the early phase of the flight, a new ground station has been built in the north of French Guiana. In view of the coming commercial operations, this will be the first Vega launch operated by Arianespace on behalf of ESA, although ESA still remains responsible for the mission.
Launch preview. A debut article from member Mattias Richter! http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/05/vega-second-launch-with-proba-v/
ESA @esa 6mT-4 hours for #Vega #VV02 launch, gantry retraction starting shortly.