Author Topic: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013  (Read 98010 times)

Offline Skyrocket

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The second flight (VV02) of the Vega launch vehicle is currently planned for May 2013 and will put several small satellites into orbit.

Of the payloads, only Proba-V has been published.

Does anyone have info, which payloads will also on board of this flight?
« Last Edit: 07/27/2013 10:00 am by Jester »

Offline russianhalo117

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The second flight (VV02) of the Vega launch vehicle is currently planned for May 2013 and will put several small satellites into orbit.

Of the payloads, only Proba-V has been published.

Does anyone have info, which payloads will also on board of this flight?
I have not found online or received any detailed information from campaign team officials as to what other satellites are planned to fly aboard VV02. The only reply with a bit of information, is that some confidential payloads will be on board, but they could not elaborate at this point, saying that they did not have permission to discuss the matter. The payloads will be announced at a later date.

Online Galactic Penguin SST

Now that this launch has been moved up to mid-March, do we now know what else is on board the rocket other than Proba-V?
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Offline Skyrocket

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Now that this launch has been moved up to mid-March, do we now know what else is on board the rocket other than Proba-V?

Someone told me, that TechDemoSat-1 (http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/techdemosat-1.htm) might be one of the payloads, but i could not yet verify this.

Online Galactic Penguin SST

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30752.msg996941#msg996941

Quote
Launch of Proba-V on Vega
Proba-V is a miniaturised satellite for a full-scale mission tracking global vegetation. Along with its main mission, Proba-V also hosts five promising technologies from across Europe that will be demonstrated in space. Proba-V will be launched on the new Vega vehicle, which will on this flight further demonstrate its capability by carrying several payloads for delivery into two very different orbits.
Location: CSG, Europe’s Spaceport (French Guiana).   
Expected date: April 
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Online Galactic Penguin SST

The Astrium-built VNREDSat 1A for Vietnam has been confirmed to fly on this flight: http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2013/1-4-2013-VNREDSat-1A-contract.asp

Will there be even more payloads other than the two confirmed ones?
« Last Edit: 01/04/2013 04:02 pm by Galactic Penguin SST »
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Offline Skyrocket

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Will there be even more payloads other than the two confirmed ones?

If we take the ESA statement literally ("Proba-V remote sensing satellite and multiple auxiliary payloads."), then there must be at least one more.

Offline osiossim

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Anybody has any information about VNREDSAT-1 launch contract amount?

Offline jacqmans

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Proba-V satellite.....
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Jacques :-)

Offline Skyrocket

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #10 on: 01/18/2013 07:11 pm »

Offline woods170

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #11 on: 01/19/2013 03:06 pm »
Proba-V satellite.....

The size and outer appearance reminds of Sloshsat-FLEVO.

Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #12 on: 01/23/2013 07:48 pm »
Anybody has any information about VNREDSAT-1 launch contract amount?

http://talkvietnam.com/2013/01/vietnam-plans-to-launch-third-satellite-in-the-second-quarter/

Quote
The 120-kilogram satellite is being constructed by Astrium, an aerospace subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, at a total cost of EUR55.2 million and funded with official development assistance from France.

Offline osiossim

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #13 on: 01/24/2013 02:28 pm »
Anybody has any information about VNREDSAT-1 launch contract amount?

http://talkvietnam.com/2013/01/vietnam-plans-to-launch-third-satellite-in-the-second-quarter/

Quote
The 120-kilogram satellite is being constructed by Astrium, an aerospace subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, at a total cost of EUR55.2 million and funded with official development assistance from France.


Thanks but 55.2 M€ includes the satellite (possibly) engineering model, flight model, launch, ground station and insurance. Maybe some for LEOP and integration facility construction and test devices for manufactoring similar satellites in Vietnam.

We wonder how much Arianespace charge for launch service.

SpaceX generally leak contract price information (roughly) to public internet but Arianespace keep it as secret. Different marketing mentality and possibly due to a EU subsidized money for launch...
« Last Edit: 01/24/2013 02:30 pm by osiossim »

Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #14 on: 02/04/2013 04:16 pm »

First stage of Vega VV02 arrives at Europe’s Spaceport

4 February 2013

 The first stage of Vega VV02 has been successfully transferred to its launch pad at the European Spaceport in French Guiana.
 
The arrival of Assembly A1A, consisting of the equipped interstage 0/1, the P80 solid rocket motor and the relevant thrust vectoring system (TVC), signifies the start of Vega VV02 launch campaign activities.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/First_stage_of_Vega_VV02_arrives_at_Europe_s_Spaceport
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #15 on: 02/12/2013 08:23 pm »
Artist's view of the Proba-V satellite.

The ‘V’ in its name stands for Vegetation: Proba-V will fly a reduced-mass version of the Vegetation instrument currently on board the Spot satellites to provide a daily overview of global vegetation growth.

Planned to be launched in 2013, ESA’s Proba-V mission will perform daily tracking of global vegetation growth. At the same time, the small satellite will also monitor the space environment with a compact radiation instrument.

Proba-V’s Energetic Particle Telescope (EPT) will record the charge, energy and angle of incoming charged particles along a wide range of energies across a 50° field-of-view.

The Proba satellites are part of ESA’s In-orbit Technology Demonstration Programme: missions dedicated to flying innovative technologies.
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #16 on: 02/22/2013 02:08 pm »
The light-lift member of Arianespace’s launcher family is readied for its second mission


February 21, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02
 
The Spaceport’s ZLV launch site in French Guiana is busy with activity as the second Vega undergoes its assembly for a mission scheduled in April.
 
Build-up of the smallest member in Arianespace’s launcher family marked a new milestone this week when its solid propellant second-stage was integrated atop the first stage, which also uses solid propellant.
 
The vertical assembly process for Vega no. 2 is being performed on the ZLV launch pad, protected by a mobile gantry that will be withdrawn prior to the vehicle’s liftoff. This complex uses the same site previously employed for missions from French Guiana with the cornerstone Ariane 1 and 3 vehicles – having been updated and adapted where needed to meet operational requirements of the new lightweight launcher.
 
Vega’s upcoming second flight will orbit the Proba-V and VNREDSat-1A satellites, and follows the light-lift vehicle’s on-target maiden launch in February 2012 with a payload of nine spacecraft – which served as its qualification mission.
 
The Proba-V passenger for Vega’s no. 2 launch was produced by prime contractor Qinetiq Space Belgium for the European Space Agency, and will monitor global vegetation growth. With an estimated mass of 160 kg., it is to operate in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit, carrying a newly-designed version of the Vegetation instrument already flown on the Spot series of Earth observation satellites – which also were orbited by Arianespace.
 
Vega’s VNREDSat-1A co-passenger is an optical observation spacecraft built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. With a mass of approximately 120 kg., it will support the Vietnamese government’s initiative to create an infrastructure that enables better monitoring and studies of climate change effects, improves predictions and actions to prevent natural disasters, while also optimizing the management of its natural resources.
 
The four-stage Vega was conceived as a capable lightweight launcher, joining Arianespace’s medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 to provide a complete family of vehicles that meet the company’s motto of delivering “any payload, to any orbit…anytime.” Developed in a European program led by Italy’s ASI space agency and industrial prime contractor ELV SpA., Vega is tailored to orbit small- to medium-sized satellites, including institutional and scientific spacecraft.

For Vega’s April mission, the launch is designated Flight VV02 in Arianespace’s numbering system, with the first “V” representing the French word for flight (“vol”), and the second letter referring to Vega. This will be the start of five flights scheduled in the European Space Agency’s VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program, which aims to demonstrate the launch system’s flexibility as well as its ability to carry multiple satellite passengers.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1021.asp
« Last Edit: 02/22/2013 02:09 pm by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

Offline input~2

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Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #18 on: 03/06/2013 02:00 pm »
Vega launcher integration continues for its April mission from the Spaceport

March 4, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02
 
The no. 2 Vega light-lift launcher has been fitted with its solid propellant third stage, marking another milestone in preparations for its April mission from French Guiana with a multi-satellite payload.
 
In the latest activity at the Spaceport’s ZLV launch site, Vega’s Zefiro 9 stage was installed atop its lower two solid propellant stages, which were stacked during previous integration activity.
 
This clears the way for a “top off” of the basic Vega launcher with its bi-propellant liquid upper stage Attitude and Vernier Upper Module, which performs the attitude control and axial thrust functions during the final stages of flight – enabling the payload to be placed in orbit.
 
The flight next month will carry the Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A and ESTCUBE-1 satellites, and follows Vega’s on-target maiden launch in February 2012 with a payload of nine spacecraft – which served as its qualification mission.
 
Created by Europe as a capable lightweight launcher, Vega is tailored to orbit small- to medium-sized satellites, including institutional and scientific spacecraft. It joins the two other members of Arianespace’s vehicle family: the medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5.

Vega resulted from a European Space Agency program led by Italy’s ASI space agency and industrial prime contractor ELV SpA.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1022.asp
« Last Edit: 03/06/2013 02:01 pm by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #19 on: 03/12/2013 08:45 am »
Vega receives its upper stage as the next mission's two primary passengers land in French Guiana

March 11, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02
 
Both primary payloads for Vega’s no. 2 flight have arrived at French Guiana, positioning them for integration on the light-lift launcher – which has marked another step in preparation for its mission in April from the Spaceport.
 
On the launch pad, the basic Vega vehicle has been “topped off” with its upper stage, called the AVUM (Attitude and Vernier Upper Module). This system performs the attitude control and axial thrust functions during the final phases of Vega’s mission profile, enabling the payload to be placed into orbit. Unlike the launcher’s three lower solid propellant stages, the AVUM uses liquid bipropellant for primary maneuvering, along with cold gas for attitude control.

The AVUM’s integration atop Vega was performed inside the ZLV launch site’s mobile gantry. This Spaceport facility originally was used for missions of the Ariane 1 and Ariane 3 vehicles, with its mobile gantry, launch pad and infrastructure updated and adapted to meet the operational requirements of Arianespace’s new lightweight vehicle.
 
While Vega is taking shape at the Spaceport, its Proba-V and VNREDSat-1A satellites have touched down in French Guiana aboard a chartered Boeing 747 cargo aircraft that arrived at Félix Eboué Airport near the capital city of Cayenne.
 
Proba-V will have an estimated mass at launch of 160 kg., and was produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium for the European Space Agency. Operating in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit after its deployment by Vega, this satellite will monitor global vegetation growth. The spacecraft carries a newly-designed version of the Vegetation instrument previously flown on the Spot series of Earth observation satellites, which also were orbited by Arianespace.
 
The VNREDSat-1A co-passenger on Vega is an optical observation spacecraft built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and will have a mass at liftoff of approximately 120 kg. It is to support the Vietnamese government’s initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better monitoring and studies of climate change effects, while also improving predictions and actions to prevent natural disasters and optimizing the country’s management of its natural resources.
 
Joining them on the upcoming Vega mission is Estonia’s first satellite – the 1.33-kg. ESTCube-1 – being developed by students from Tartu University, the Estonian Aviation Academy, the Tallinn University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences, all working in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German DLR space center.

ESTCube-1’s main mission is to test a novel space propulsion technology based on the electric solar wind sail concept, with this 10 x 10 x 10-cm. mini platform carrying a deployable 10-meter-long tether to be unreeled in orbit and electrically charged.

Vega’s mission in April is designated Flight VV02 in Arianespace’s numbering system, with the first “V” representing the French word for flight (“vol”), and the second letter referring to Vega. It is one of the flights scheduled in the European Space Agency’s VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program, which aims to demonstrate the Vega launch system’s flexibility as well as its ability to carry multiple satellite passengers.
 
The four-stage Vega is tailored for small- to medium-sized satellites, complementing Arianespace’s medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 to provide a complete family of vehicles. It was developed in a European Space Agency program led by Italy’s ASI space agency and industrial prime contractor ELV SpA.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1024.asp
« Last Edit: 03/12/2013 08:45 am by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #20 on: 03/16/2013 08:21 am »
The two primary payloads for Vega’s second launch are readied at the Spaceport
 
March 14, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02
 
Payload preparations for the second Vega launch from French Guiana have commenced, with this upcoming mission’s two primary satellite passengers – VNREDSat-1A  and Proba-V – now undergoing their initial checkout at the Spaceport.   Vega is the lightweight member of Arianespace’s launcher family, which joins its medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 vehicles.

These pre-launch activities kicked off this month, following arrival of the two spacecraft in French Guiana. Preparations for VNREDSat-1A began inside the Spaceport’s S5A building, while Proba-V was based at the S1B clean room facility.

The VNREDSat-1A co-passenger on Vega will have a mass of approximately 120 kg. at liftoff.  It was built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and will support the Vietnamese government’s initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing the country’s natural resource management.
 
Proba-V was produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium for the European Space Agency and will have an estimated launch mass of 160 kg. Carrying a newer version of the Vegetation imaging instrument previously flown on the Spot series of Earth observation satellites – which also were orbited by Arianespace – Proba-V will monitor global vegetation growth.
 
Estonia’s first satellite, the 1.33-kg. ESTCube-1, will be lofted as well on the upcoming Vega mission.  Developed by students from Tartu University, the Estonian Aviation Academy, the Tallinn University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences, this small spacecraft has been evolved in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Space Center (DLR).
 
This upcoming mission – planned for April – is designated Flight VV02, and is one of the flights scheduled in the European Space Agency’s VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program – which aims to demonstrate the Vega launch system’s flexibility as well as its ability to carry multiple satellite passengers.
 
http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1025.asp
« Last Edit: 03/16/2013 08:22 am by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

Offline bolun

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Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #22 on: 03/22/2013 01:31 pm »
Estonia’s student cubesat satellite is ready for the next Vega launch

March 20, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02
 
The tiny spacecraft passenger for Vega’s upcoming Flight VV02 is getting the same “white glove” treatment as the launch’s two larger payloads, with Estonia’s ESTCube-1 student satellite now mission-ready at the Spaceport in French Guiana.
 
In the Spaceport’s S1B clean room, ESTCube-1 has been integrated in its box-type dispenser – readying the cubesat for integration in the Vega launcher’s payload “stack,” along with the Proba-V and VNREDSat-1A passengers.
 
ESTCube-1 is the first Estonian satellite, built by a collaboration of students from Tartu University, Estonian Aviation Academy, Tallinn University of Technology and University of Life Sciences, and was developed in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Space Center (DLR).

This spacecraft is 1U-category cubesat – sized at 10x10x10 cm. – which is the smallest of the nanosatellite types typically used for educational purposes and technology-proving applications. Weighing 1.33 kg., its purpose is to test electric solar wind sail technologies, as well as help establish an Estonian infrastructure for future space projects.
 
Vega Flight VV02 is the second launch for Arianespace’s lightweight vehicle and is being conducted in conjunction with the European Space Agency’s VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program.

The VNREDSat-1A primary passenger for this mission will have a mass of approximately 120 kg. at liftoff, and is to support the Vietnamese government’s initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing the country’s natural resource management. VNREDSat-1A was built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
 
As the Vega flight’s other primary passenger, Proba-V is to monitor global vegetation growth, equipped with a newer version of the Vegetation imaging instrument that previously was flown on the Spot series of Earth observation satellites – which also were orbited by Arianespace. The 160-kg. Proba-V spacecraft was produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium for the European Space Agency.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1026.asp
« Last Edit: 03/22/2013 01:32 pm by bolun »

Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #23 on: 03/23/2013 09:43 am »
ESTCube facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/estcube
« Last Edit: 03/23/2013 09:44 am by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

Offline osiossim

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #24 on: 03/25/2013 09:25 am »
With respect to previous Arianespace missions, there is nearly total silence about VEGA's second flight. Even, Proba-V blog is silent after 3-4 posts.

I wonder what is going on there?

http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/infobytes/236171/vn-to-launch-earth-observation-satellite.html?goback=%2Egde_118511_member_224637824

Offline woods170

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #25 on: 03/25/2013 10:30 am »
With respect to previous Arianespace missions, there is nearly total silence about VEGA's second flight. Even, Proba-V blog is silent after 3-4 posts.

I wonder what is going on there?

http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/infobytes/236171/vn-to-launch-earth-observation-satellite.html?goback=%2Egde_118511_member_224637824


There is plenty going on, but nothing that is interesting enough to publish status updates for.

Launch is still over 3 weeks away. The launch vehicle is now deep into testing to verify it's readiness to fly the missions. Such a phase is boring (unlike the stacking phase that looks visually interesting) and usually does not warrant the need for status updates. Same applies for the payloads. They are deep in pre-launch testing and integration on the payload adapter. And that's another one of those activities that don't warrant updates every 2 days.
But don't worry, the updates will resume once the launch date comes closer.

Offline Skyrocket

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #26 on: 03/25/2013 10:45 am »
Has anyone seen an illustration of the dual payload adaptor used in this mission?
« Last Edit: 03/25/2013 10:45 am by Skyrocket »

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #27 on: 03/25/2013 12:12 pm »
Has anyone seen an illustration of the dual payload adaptor used in this mission?
Yes, as of today. This flight will use standard version of Vespa dual-payload adapter which is derived directly from the Ariane IV family of dual-payload adapters and also has some Dnepr characteristics present.

LINK to an early version of Vespa System during the adaptors design: http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/gsp/completed/C21488ExS.pdf

Link to 2010 Version of Vespa (I will try to find an official link to the presentation later today after I finish my classes for today): http://www.docstoc.com/docs/47924606/Microsoft-PowerPoint---Presentaz
« Last Edit: 03/29/2013 04:41 pm by russianhalo117 »

Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #28 on: 03/28/2013 11:04 am »
Snap-proof space tether
 
27 March 2013

Space tethers hold intriguing potential for satellite manoeuvring, attitude control and even power generation. But about half of all orbital tether tests have either failed to deploy or snapped, probably due to micrometeoroid impacts.
 
This scanning electron microscope image shows the new design of an ultra-thin and hopefully snap-proof solar sail tether soon to be tested on Estonia’s ESTCube-1, which is being launched into orbit along with ESA’s Proba-V satellite on the next Vega rocket in April.
 
Harnessing manufacturing techniques from the microelectronics industry, this aluminium tether measures just 50 micrometres across – across half the diameter of the average human hair – with a smaller 25 micrometre wire interweaved onto it.
 
The University of Helsinki’s interweaving technique, with several wires joined together every centimetre, will hopefully keep the tether intact to run an electric charge down it, even if all but one subwires in the tether are cut.
 
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Snap-proof_space_tether

Hi-Res Image
« Last Edit: 03/29/2013 04:00 pm by bolun »

Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #29 on: 03/29/2013 04:22 pm »
Proba: ESA's amazing testbed (video)

http://spaceinvideos.esa.int/Videos/2013/03/Proba

Online Galactic Penguin SST

It looks like there may be a delay to NET April 29 for this launch....

http://www.forum-conquete-spatiale.fr/t7262p225-nouvelles-du-lanceur-vega
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Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #31 on: 04/08/2013 02:31 pm »
Proba-V launch preparations continue at CSG

http://spaceinimages.esa.int/Images/2013/04/Proba-V_launch_preparations_continue_at_CSG

Image credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG

Online Galactic Penguin SST

It looks like there may be a delay to NET April 29 for this launch....

http://www.forum-conquete-spatiale.fr/t7262p225-nouvelles-du-lanceur-vega

On the Arianespace mission status page this flight's launch date is now shown as "TBD". Yesterday it was still showing as "April".
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Offline Plutoman

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #33 on: 04/09/2013 08:49 pm »
Vega Flight VV02 - delay to May 2, 2013

http://www.arianespace.com/news/mission-status.asp
« Last Edit: 04/09/2013 08:49 pm by Plutoman »

Online Galactic Penguin SST

Vega Flight VV02 - delay to May 2, 2013

http://www.arianespace.com/news/mission-status.asp

Note that this is apparently Kourou time, that's May 3 @ 02:06 GMT (apparently no change to the launch time, as expected for sun-angle-critical SSO launches).
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Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #35 on: 04/15/2013 11:03 am »
Payload integration is underway for Vega’s second mission from the Spaceport

April 12, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02
 
The multi-satellite payload “stack” for Vega’s upcoming flight from French Guiana is now taking shape as the Arianespace-managed integration process advances at the Spaceport.
 
This activity began in the Spaceport’s S5 clean room facility with installation of Estonia’s ESTCube-1 student nanosatellite on a flat mounting surface called the P2 Plate – which serves as the lower interface in the Vega’s payload stack.  The small cube-shaped satellite and its dispenser were integrated using a bracket that was mounted to the P2 Plate.
 
The next step was the placement of Vietnam’s VNREDSat-1 with its interface adapter on the P2 Plate, joining ESTCube-1.   

Both satellites are located in the payload stack’s lower position, and will ride inside a larger dispenser system called VESPA.  Completing the payload arrangement will be installation of the mission’s third satellite – Proba-V – which is to ride atop the VESPA dispenser.
 
Proba-V will have a mass at liftoff of 160-kg., and is to monitor global vegetation growth.  Produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium for the European Space Agency, the satellite is equipped with a newer version of the Vegetation imaging instrument that previously operated on the Spot series of Earth observation satellites – which also were orbited by Arianespace.
 
VNREDSat-1 is to support the Vietnamese government’s initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing the country’s natural resource management.  Weighing 120 kg. for liftoff, it was built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
 
The 1.3-kg. ESTCube-1 cubesat was designed to test electric solar wind sail technologies, as well as help establish an Estonian infrastructure for future space projects. It was built by a collaboration of students from Tartu University, Estonian Aviation Academy, Tallinn University of Technology and University of Life Sciences – and was developed in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Space Center (DLR).
 
Vega’s upcoming mission – designated Flight VV02 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system – is scheduled for liftoff from the Spaceport on May 2.  This will be the second launch for Arianespace’s new lightweight vehicle and is being conducted in conjunction with the European Space Agency’s VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1030.asp

Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #36 on: 04/17/2013 03:16 pm »
Proba-V rides a Vespa

Proba-V atop the Vespa (Vega Secondary Payload Adapter) adapter on 15 April 2013. The minisatellite will ride the adapter to orbit during its flight in May, with its fellow passengers stowed within it: Vietnam’s VNREDSat Earth observation mission and Estonia’s ESTCube-1 student nanosatellite, to test electric solar sail technology. The Vega launcher fairing is seen in the background.

Credits: ESA - Karim Mellab
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #37 on: 04/17/2013 03:43 pm »
17 April 2013

 ESA’s Proba-V vegetation-mapping minisatellite has been fitted to the payload adapter and met its fellow passengers for its 2 May flight to orbit on a Vega launcher.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions/Proba-V_is_seated_for_flight
 
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #38 on: 04/20/2013 06:52 am »
Vega's three-satellite payload is integrated and ready for launch

April 19, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02
 
The payload “stack” for Vega’s second mission from French Guiana has been completed and is ready for installation on the lightweight launch vehicle at the Spaceport.
 
This milestone completes the integration of all three payloads to be orbited on the May 2 mission, and underscores the capabilities of Arianespace’s latest launcher family member to accommodate a variety of satellite passengers.

The payload stack begins with Vietnam’s 120-kg. VNREDSat-1 and the 1.3-kg. ESTCube-1 Estonian student nanosatellite, which are positioned inside a dispenser container system called Vespa.  Installed atop the Vespa dispenser is Proba-V, a 160-kg. spacecraft for the European Space Agency (ESA).
 
To complete the integration process, the payload stack was encapsulated inside Vega’s payload fairing – readying it for transfer from the S5 preparation facility to the Spaceport’s ZLV launch site.
 
The May 2 flight – which follows Vega’s qualification mission in February 2012 – marks the debut of Europe’s VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program – which is to demonstrate the light-lift vehicle’s flexibility and versatility.  At a planned minimum of two launches annually, this ESA program will allow the smooth transition of Vega into Arianespace’s commercial operations.
 
After its deployment by Vega on the upcoming flight, Proba-V will begin the satellite’s mission of mapping land cover and vegetation growth across the Earth every two days. The miniaturized ESA satellite is to provide data for the instrument’s worldwide scientific user community and service providers once its in-orbit commissioning is completed.

Proba-V was produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium and carries a new, advanced version of the Vegetation instrument – the latest in a series already deployed on France’s full-sized Spot-4 and Spot-5 satellites, which have been observing the planet since 1998 after their launches by Arianespace.

The Astrium-built VNREDSat-1 will support the Vietnamese government’s initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing the country’s natural resource management.  It was built on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
 
ESTCube-1 is to test electric solar wind sail technologies and help establish an Estonian infrastructure for future space projects. This satellite was produced in a collaboration of students from Tartu University, Estonian Aviation Academy, Tallinn University of Technology and University of Life Sciences – and developed in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Space Center (DLR).
 
Once in orbit, ESTCube-1 will deploy a small conductive tether which is to be electrically charged to 500 Volts using electron guns contained within the 10 x 10 x 10-cm. cubesat.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1031.asp
« Last Edit: 04/20/2013 06:54 am by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #39 on: 04/24/2013 07:34 am »
Vega’s second Spaceport mission: the launcher is assembled and ready for final checkout
 
April 23, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1032.asp

Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #40 on: 04/24/2013 07:45 am »
Fully assembled Vega VV02 in mobile gantry

http://spaceinimages.esa.int/Images/2013/04/Fully_assembled_Vega_VV02_in_mobile_gantry2

Image credit: ESA–S. Corvaja

Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #41 on: 04/24/2013 07:49 am »
Fully assembled Vega VV02 on pad

http://spaceinimages.esa.int/Images/2013/04/Fully_assembled_Vega_VV02_on_pad10

Image credit: ESA–S. Corvaja
« Last Edit: 04/24/2013 07:54 am by bolun »

Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #42 on: 04/24/2013 07:52 am »
Fully assembled Vega VV02 on pad

http://spaceinimages.esa.int/Images/2013/04/Fully_assembled_Vega_VV02_on_pad9

Imge credit:ESA–S. Corvaja

Offline input~2

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #43 on: 04/24/2013 04:16 pm »
NOTAMs
Quote
A0099/13 - TEMPORARY DANGEROUS AREA ACTIVATED DUE TO ROCKET LAUNCHING
ARIANE ZA/VV02-602 VEGA
LATERAL 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
Quote
R0029/13  - WEST PACIFIC DANGEROUS ZONE IS DECLARED DUE TO SPACE RE-ENTRY ACTIVITY
THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY GEO COORD:
330800S/0931200W
330600S/0913100W
442900S/0881500W
444000S/0895700W
INFO PROVIDED BY EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
[..] SFC - UNL, 03 MAY 04:30
2013 UNTIL 03 MAY 06:30 2013. CREATED: 18 APR 14:25 2013
« Last Edit: 04/24/2013 04:28 pm by input~2 »

Offline Jester

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #44 on: 04/25/2013 10:05 am »
24 hrs delay

Offline Jester

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #45 on: 04/25/2013 10:06 am »
Liftoff is now scheduled for the night of 3/4 May at exactly:   
   
23:06:31 (local time in French Guiana on 3 May)   
02:06:31 (GMT on 4 May)   
04:06:31 (Paris time on 4 May) 

Offline Jester

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #46 on: 04/25/2013 10:07 am »
Full release:

Press Release   
N°10-2013   
   
Paris, 25 April 2013   
   
Second Vega launch postponed by 24 hours   
   
To carry out additional checks on the mobile gantry system used on the Vega launch complex (SLV) at the CSG, Europe’s Spaceport, ESA and Arianespace have decided to postpone the Vega launch VV02 for 24 hours.   
   
Liftoff is now scheduled for the night of 3/4 May at exactly:   
   
23:06:31 (local time in French Guiana on 3 May)   
02:06:31 (GMT on 4 May)   
04:06:31 (Paris time on 4 May)   
   
About the European Space Agency   
   
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space.   
ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.   
   
ESA has 20 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, of whom 18 are Member States of the EU.   
   
ESA has Cooperation Agreements with eight other Member States of the EU and is discussing an Agreement with the one remaining (Bulgaria). Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.   
   
ESA is also working with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes.   
By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.   
ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.   
   
Today, it launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space.   

Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #47 on: 04/27/2013 03:32 pm »
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Vega_poised_for_commercial_launches

Quote
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.

Quote
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.

Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #48 on: 05/01/2013 03:44 pm »
Vega is readied for its May 3 liftoff with a three-satellite international payload

May 1, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02
 
The second Vega mission from French Guiana has entered its final preparation phase as the lightweight launcher is readied for a nighttime liftoff on May 3 with a trio of satellites as its payload.
 
Activity at the Spaceport’s SLV launch site during recent days included completion of fueling for Vega’s AVUM bipropellant upper stage, which will inject the flight’s Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 payloads into their respective orbits.

This mission’s launch on Friday is set for a precise moment: 11:06:31 p.m., local time at the Spaceport, for a flight lasting 2 hours, 48 seconds from liftoff to separation of the final spacecraft in its payload “stack.”
 
The flight profile calls for Proba-V – the upper payload – to be released from its position atop Vega’s VESPA (Vega Secondary Payload Adapter) dispenser system at 55 minutes and 27 seconds after liftoff.  It will be followed by VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1, both of which are riding inside the VESPA dispenser.
 
During the mission, the initial powered phase will be performed by the Vega’s three solid propellant stages (designated the P80, Zefiro-23 and Zefiro-9), lasting 6 minutes and 19 seconds.  The AVUM upper stage will be ignited for four separate burns for the payload deployment sequence, followed by a final burn that deorbits the upper stage to ensure that it does not remain as a debris threat. 

Vega will release its satellites into Sun-synchronous orbits.  Proba-V is to be injected at an altitude of 820 km., while VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 are intended for separations at 665 km. orbital altitudes.
 
Proba-V (which is named from the acronym: Project for On-Board Autonomy and Vegetation) is part of the Proba spacecraft series developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) in supporting the development of new space technologies.  Its primary objective is to continue the mission performed by the Vegetation instruments carried on Spot 4 and 5 satellites – which also were launched by Arianespace. 

Built by QinetiQ Space Belgium, the Proba-V platform weighs 140 kg. and will be placed into the same orbit as the Spot remote-sensing satellites.
 
The VNREDSat-1 optical satellite is part of Vietnam’s initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing the country’s natural resource management.  This 120-kg. spacecraft was built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).
 
ESTCube-1 is Estonia’s first satellite, designed and built by a team of students at the country’s National University of Tartu, under supervision of the Estonian Space Office.  The project involved a collaboration of students from the Estonian Aviation Academy, Tallinn University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences –developed in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Space Center (DLR). In addition to extending a small conductive tether for testing of electric solar wind sail technologies, the 1.33-kg. cubesat will help establish an Estonian infrastructure for future space projects.
 
Vega is tailored for launching 1,500-kg. class payloads to a reference altitude of 700 km., providing Arianespace with a light-lift vehicle capable of accommodating scientific and governmental satellites, as well as commercial payloads.  It was developed in an ESA program financed by Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden.

The Vega launcher’s design authority and prime contractor is Italy’s ELV company – a joint venture of Avio and the Italian Space Agency.  Arianespace handles launch operations, with Vega completing its launcher family, joining the medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 in side-by-side operations at the Spaceport.
 
Vega’s launch on May 3 is designated VV02 in Arianespace’s mission numbering system, and represents the debut of ESA’s VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program, which will demonstrate the light-lift vehicle’s flexibility and versatility.   The first Vega flight was performed from the Spaceport in February 2012, and served as the vehicle’s qualification mission.

Launch window for Vega Flight VV02

- UTC: At 02:06:31 on May 4, 2013
 
- Paris, France: At 4:06:31 a.m. on May 4, 2013

- Kourou, French Guiana: At 11:06:31 p.m. on May 3, 2013

- Washington D.C., USA: At 10:06:31 p.m. on May 3, 2013

- Hanoï, Vietnam: At 9:06:31 a.m. on May 4, 2013
 
http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1037.asp

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #49 on: 05/01/2013 09:39 pm »
LINK: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Vega_poised_for_commercial_launches/(print)

VEGA POISED FOR COMMERCIAL LAUNCHES


26 April 2013
The second Vega launch marks the start of 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.

The Proba-V prime payload is the first of four ESA missions to use Vega as part of the Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment - VERTA - programme to demonstrate the system’s flexibility. Proba-V carries a reduced version of the Vegetation camera currently flying on the Spot satellites to provide a daily overview of global vegetation growth.

The Vietnam Natural Resources, Environment and Disaster Monitoring Satellite – VNRedsat – was built by Astrium for the Vietnamese government.

ESTCube-1 will test advanced solar sail technologies and help to establish an Estonian infrastructure for future space projects – it also showcases the possibility offered by this launcher to carry cubesats, a nice opportunity for European Member States to make simple space missions.

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.

Arianespace has been responsible for the procurement, acceptance and integration of the vehicle, managing the launch service and marketing. As stipulated in the VERTA programme, this launch should ease the way towards full autonomy of Arianespace and industry in exploiting this light-lift launcher.

Related links
Launchers
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers

Vega
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Vega

Copyright 2000 - 2013 © European Space Agency. All rights reserved.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #50 on: 05/01/2013 09:46 pm »
LINK: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions/Proba-V_ready_atop_Vega_launcher_on_pad/(print)

PROBA-V READY ATOP VEGA LAUNCHER ON PAD
25 April 2013
ESA’s Proba-V and its two companion satellites are sitting on top of their Vega rocket on the launch pad, ready for a flight rescheduled to the night of 3/4 May.

To carry out additional checks on the mobile gantry used at the Vega complex at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, ESA and Arianespace have decided to postpone flight VV02 for 24 hours.

Liftoff is now scheduled for the night of 3/4 May at 02:06:31 GMT on 4 May (04:06:31 CEST 4 May; 23:06:31 local time 3 May).

On 15 April Proba-V was fixed to the Vespa secondary payload adapter, above Vietnam’s VNREDSat-1 Earth observation satellite and the ESTCube-1 Estonian student nanosatellite.

Two days later this entire stack was enclosed within Vega’s protective fairing. On 19 April the ‘upper composite’ was transported to the mobile launch tower, where it was hoisted up to the top platform.

The assembly was attached to Vega the following day, sitting above the reignitable upper stage that will steer the trio of satellites to their various orbits.

The mobile launch tower was retracted on Tuesday, leaving the completed rocket in place on the pad ready for a full checkout.

Proba-V will be the first of the three satellites deployed from the upper stage. Occupying less than a cubic metre, it is a miniaturised ESA satellite tasked with a full-scale mission: to map land cover and vegetation across the entire planet every two days.

This new, advanced version of the Vegetation camera is the latest in a series already in service on France’s full-sized Spot-4 and Spot-5 satellites, which have been observing Earth since 1998.

The minisatellite will provide data to the camera’s worldwide user community of scientists and service providers as soon as it is commissioned in orbit.

This second flight marks the start of the Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment programme, or VERTA, to demonstrate the flexibility and versatility of the vehicle. At a planned minimum of two launches per year, the programme will allow the smooth transition of Vega into commercial exploitation.

Related links
Proba-V
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions

Vega
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Vega

Proba-V is seated for flight
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions/Proba-V_is_seated_for_flight

Arianespace
http://www.arianespace.com/index/index.asp

Proba
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions

Proba-V launch diary part 1
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions/Proba-V_launch_diary_part_1

Proba-V launch diary part 2
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions/Proba-V_launch_diary_part_2

Proba-V launch diary part 3
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions/Proba-V_launch_diary_part_3

Proba-V launch diary part 4
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions/Proba-V_launch_diary_part_4

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Offline Artyom.

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #51 on: 05/02/2013 09:48 am »
After its successful qualification flight on 13 February 2012, Vega is on its launch pad on its way for its second mission. With this mission Vega will show its full potential with 3 different payloads: Proba Vegetation, the Estonian Cubesat and a commercial satellite, VNRD-sat for Vietnam. This 3 payload delivery is made possible thanks to a new multi payload system called VESPA


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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #52 on: 05/03/2013 12:40 am »
LINK: http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1038.asp

Mission Update

Ready for liftoff: Vega is authorized for its May 3 flight from the Spaceport

May 2, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02

The second Vega mission from French Guiana has been given its “green light” for liftoff tomorrow night, following completion of the launch readiness review earlier today at the Spaceport.

The VV02 mission’s three satellite passengers are encapsulated in the Vega payload fairing, which is shown in an aerial photo of the Spaceport’s SLV launch site (photo at left) and illustrated by the cutaway drawing at right.

This assessment – held prior to each flight of an Arianespace launcher family member – confirmed that the lightweight vehicle and its multi-passenger payload are flight-ready, along with the Spaceport’s infrastructure and the network of downrange tracking stations.

The mission is designated VV02 in Arianespace’s numbering system, and it will be performed from the Spaceport’s SLV launch site – where the Vega was assembled and now stands in a flight-ready configuration, protected by a mobile gantry that will be withdrawn prior to liftoff.

All is set for a May 3 launch beginning precisely at 11:06:31 p.m., local time at the Spaceport in French Guiana, with the flight lasting 2 hours, 48 seconds from liftoff to separation of the final spacecraft in its payload “stack” – which is composed of the Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 satellites.

Proba-V – produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium for the European Space Agency – is to be deployed first in the flight sequence, injected from its position atop Vega’s VESPA (Vega Secondary Payload Adapter) dispenser system.

It will be followed by release of the two spacecraft riding inside the VESPA dispenser: VNREDSat-1, which was manufactured by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST); and the ESTCube-1 cubesat that was built by a collaboration of students from Tartu University, Estonian Aviation Academy, Tallinn University of Technology and University of Life Sciences – and developed in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Space Center (DLR).

Tomorrow’s Vega launch is part of multiple missions in the European Space Agency’s VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program, which is to demonstrate the launch system’s capabilities in orbiting small- to medium-sized satellites.  Vega was developed in a European program led by Italy’s ASI space agency and industrial prime contractor ELV SpA.

With Vega as a member of Arianespace’s launcher family, the company is able to launch payloads of all sizes – operating this lightweight vehicle along with the medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 in side-by-side operations from the Spaceport.

Vega VV02 launch kit LINK: http://www.arianespace.com/news-launch-kits/2013-present-archive.asp

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #53 on: 05/03/2013 09:40 am »
Moved for live coverage!!!...

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #54 on: 05/03/2013 06:28 pm »
http://spaceinvideos.esa.int/esalive just started live transmission of their prewebcast material ahead of the start of launch.

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Launch preview. A debut article from member Mattias Richter! :)

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/05/vega-second-launch-with-proba-v/
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #56 on: 05/03/2013 09:27 pm »
Launch preview. A debut article from member Mattias Richter! :)

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/05/vega-second-launch-with-proba-v/

Really good article, thanks!
Welcome on board Mattias!

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T-4 hours for #Vega #VV02 launch, gantry retraction starting shortly.
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I'm so happy about EstCube-1, which will test the interesting solar electric sail unreeling. Aalto-1, the Finnish version with longer tethers will follow next year.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #59 on: 05/03/2013 11:44 pm »
ESA ‏@esa 6m
T-4 hours for #Vega #VV02 launch, gantry retraction starting shortly.
4:42 PM - 3 May 13
Arianespace ‏@Arianespace
#Vega Flight #VV02: Mobile gantry roll-back complete for tonight’s mission with a three-satellite payload.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #60 on: 05/04/2013 12:39 am »
Webcast start is now 1Hr 7min out. Arianespace TV and ESA Web-TV are now transmitting live in realtime and currently displaying standard colourbars.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #61 on: 05/04/2013 12:56 am »
Webcast start is now at W-50:00 and counting.
Arianespace French voice checks were just started and expecting English voice checks to begin shortly.

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #62 on: 05/04/2013 01:17 am »
Webcast start is now at W-29:00 and counting.

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #64 on: 05/04/2013 01:34 am »
upload test.....
« Last Edit: 05/04/2013 01:40 am by Prober »
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #65 on: 05/04/2013 01:39 am »
Launch is postponed according to satellite feed.
- Aaron

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SCRUB?
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Online Galactic Penguin SST

Apparently due to high altitude winds...... (remember that it's a 1 sec window!)
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Range weather (winds - same as Antares scrub 2).
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Offline russianhalo117

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Range weather (winds - same as Antares scrub 2).
An official announcement about and when want to retarget the launch should be on Arianespace website shortly.

Online Galactic Penguin SST

Peter B. de Selding ‏@pbdes
CNES's Le Gall: Atmospheric balloon sent up 1 hr before Vega launch showed "very high" winds, which may not permit launch before Sunday.

If this is talking about local time..... this means a 48 hour turn-around.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #71 on: 05/04/2013 02:01 am »
Launch is postponed according to satellite feed.

Well that's disappointing  :(
Guess I don't need to make popcorn tonight ;)

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Offline russianhalo117

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Press Release

Arianespace Flight VV02: Vega – Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1; Launch postponed
Kourou, May 3, 2013

The weather conditions being unfavourable over the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Arianespace have decided to postpone VV02. VV02 will place into orbit the Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 satellites.

Another launch date will be decided depending on the evolution of the weather conditions in Kourou.

Cliquez ici pour consulter le communiqué de presse en français (118 Kb. PDF)
http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2013/news-press-releases-fr-13/5-3-2013_FR.pdf
« Last Edit: 05/04/2013 02:15 am by russianhalo117 »

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Unfavorable high-altitude winds postpone Vega’s mission from the Spaceport with a trio of satellites
 
May 3, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02


High-altitude winds over the Spaceport in French Guiana have resulted in the decision by Arianespace and the European Space Agency to postpone tonight’s Vega mission with three satellite payloads.
 
This postponement was based on strict safety conditions applied for Arianespace launch operations.  The Vega vehicle and its three spacecraft passengers – Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 – remain in a safe, standby mode at the Spaceport’s SLV launch site.
 
A new launch date will be decided based on the evolution of the weather conditions.
 
The Proba-V passenger for this mission is a 160-kg. European Space Agency spacecraft, designed to map land cover and vegetation growth across the Earth every two days.  Produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium, it carries an advanced version of the Vegetation instrument.
 
VNREDSat-1 is a 120-kg. optical satellite for Vietnam, designed to support the country’s creation of an infrastructure to enable better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing natural resource management.  It was built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).
 
Joining these two payloads is Estonia’s ESTCube-1 student nanosatellite, which will test electric solar wind sail technologies and help establish the basis infrastructure for future Estonian space projects.  The 1.3-kg. cubesat was produced in a collaboration of students from the Estonian Aviation Academy, Tallinn University of Technology, Tartu University and the University of Life Sciences – and developed in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Space Center (DLR).

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1040.asp
Jacques :-)

Online Galactic Penguin SST

Strange that unlike previous Kourou weather scrubs that I have seen (usually quickly determining a 24 hour turn-around), it has been >14 hours since the scrub and still no new launch date updates from Arianespace/CNES/ESA. All local sources at CSG are saying that the earliest time the weather can clear is on the night of May 5/6 (e.g. https://twitter.com/StefanBarensky/status/330648400347422720), i.e. 48 hours delay, yet no official sources have reported that information......

So are they trying another attempt in 10 hours time (even if the weather forecast are pessimistic)?  ???
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Jacques :-)

Offline russianhalo117

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Unfavorable high-altitude winds postpone Vega’s mission from the Spaceport with a trio of satellites
 
May 3, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02


High-altitude winds over the Spaceport in French Guiana have resulted in the decision by Arianespace and the European Space Agency to postpone tonight’s Vega mission with three satellite payloads.
 
This postponement was based on strict safety conditions applied for Arianespace launch operations.  The Vega vehicle and its three spacecraft passengers – Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 – remain in a safe, standby mode at the Spaceport’s SLV launch site.
 
A new launch date will be decided based on the evolution of the weather conditions.
 
The Proba-V passenger for this mission is a 160-kg. European Space Agency spacecraft, designed to map land cover and vegetation growth across the Earth every two days.  Produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium, it carries an advanced version of the Vegetation instrument.
 
VNREDSat-1 is a 120-kg. optical satellite for Vietnam, designed to support the country’s creation of an infrastructure to enable better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing natural resource management.  It was built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).
 
Joining these two payloads is Estonia’s ESTCube-1 student nanosatellite, which will test electric solar wind sail technologies and help establish the basis infrastructure for future Estonian space projects.  The 1.3-kg. cubesat was produced in a collaboration of students from the Estonian Aviation Academy, Tallinn University of Technology, Tartu University and the University of Life Sciences – and developed in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Space Center (DLR).

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1040.asp
It is sounding more and more like NET Monday night because officials at ESA have said on twitter that Arianespace says it want's the area's strong winds downrange to settle further from this weeks recent cool front high, which passed through on the end of the weekend Sunday into Monday morning. An unofficial tweet from an hour ago indicated that Arianespace is likely going to defer setting a new launch date today for reasons about crew rest requirements in addition to the upper level winds.

Also, here is the accompanying image from yesterdays attempt that is located in the updated (expanded) press release shown above.

Online Galactic Penguin SST

Looks very likely that the launch is now on Tuesday GMT: https://twitter.com/StefanBarensky/status/330916089473163264
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Thanks for finding that GP. Nothing much being said on the official lines.
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Offline russianhalo117

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Thanks for finding that GP. Nothing much being said on the official lines.
ESA LINK: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Strong_easterly_winds_postpone_Vega_countdown

ESA says the countdown is to resume from where countdown clock stopped, but has been reset to start at exactly T-30:00 minutes. Vega is in currently in a so-called ready to launch from hold mode ready to pick back up quickly at a moments notice.

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Thanks for finding that GP. Nothing much being said on the official lines.
ESA LINK: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Strong_easterly_winds_postpone_Vega_countdown

ESA says the countdown is to resume from where countdown clock stopped, but has been reset to start at exactly T-30:00 minutes. Vega is in currently in a so-called ready to launch from hold mode ready to pick back up quickly at a moments notice.
Nice advantage from an (nearly) all-solids vehicle. Try doing this with an all-cryogen launcher... ;)

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AVUM is bi-propellant.

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Arianespace Flight VV02 scheduled for the night of May 6 to 7

Given the weather conditions over the Guiana Space Center on May 5, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Arianespace have decided to restart the countdown for Vega Flight VV02. This mission will place three satellites into orbit: Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1.
If the favorable trend in weather conditions continues, the launch is now scheduled for the night of May 6-7, 2013, at exactly:

11:06:31 pm    (local time in French Guiana), on May 6, 2013
10:06:31 pm    (Washington, DC)
02:06:31          (UTC) on May 7, 2013
4:06:31 am      (Paris)
9:06:31 am      (Hanoi)
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Offline woods170

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AVUM is bi-propellant.

That is why I said "(nearly) all-solid..."
Besides, the AVUM propellants are storable and can be kept in their tanks for months if necessary.

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #86 on: 05/06/2013 06:01 pm »
Arianespace’s Vega Flight VV02 is set for launch tonight from the Spaceport
http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1041.asp

Offline tehwkd

Few ESTCube-1 animations:





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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 4, 2013
« Reply #88 on: 05/06/2013 08:24 pm »

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #89 on: 05/06/2013 11:18 pm »
Do we know the details of the third stage trajectory? I estimate perigee of about -100 km, marginally suborbital, so it should go a long way downrange.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #90 on: 05/06/2013 11:50 pm »
Just under 2 hours till video coverage starts:



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Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #91 on: 05/07/2013 12:16 am »
The webcast is now on Air with colourbars: Live Webcast Commentary of the launch begins in W-01:30:00 and counting.
« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 12:38 am by russianhalo117 »

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #92 on: 05/07/2013 12:46 am »
Live Webcast Commentary of the launch begins in W-01:00:00 and counting.

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russianhalo117: I think your count is an hour early.

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #94 on: 05/07/2013 01:13 am »
russianhalo117: I think your count is an hour early.

 
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #95 on: 05/07/2013 01:16 am »
Live Webcast Commentary of the launch begins in W-30:00 and counting.

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Hmm, I'll take my words back! For whatever reason, the forum is showing the wrong time for me, and I did change it when the daylight saving time came into effect here in Finland.

I'll have to re-adjust it...

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #97 on: 05/07/2013 01:32 am »
Live Webcast Commentary of the launch begins in W-14:00 and counting.

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Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #99 on: 05/07/2013 01:45 am »
Live Webcast Commentary of the launch begins in W-01:00 and counting.

Online mtakala24

Its almost 5am here in Finland (same as Estonia). I haven't slept yet. I wonder how many Estonians are also doing the same. I hear they are having a launch party somewhere, presumably in Tallinn.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #101 on: 05/07/2013 01:46 am »
Live Webcast Commentary of the launch has officially begun.

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #102 on: 05/07/2013 01:46 am »
7...6...5....4...3...2...1..


coverage has started!  :)

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Off we go.
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Green at T-19 mins.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #106 on: 05/07/2013 01:48 am »
Off we go.
Handing over to you guys for the rest of the night/morning.

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #107 on: 05/07/2013 01:48 am »
« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 01:51 am by Prober »
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T-12 mins.
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T-7 mins. Lots of promos.
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VESPA
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T-4 mins. Automated count.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #120 on: 05/07/2013 02:04 am »
« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 02:07 am by Prober »
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Coming up on T-120 seconds.
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T-60 seconds.
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LAUNCH!
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #125 on: 05/07/2013 02:07 am »
LAUNCH!

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #126 on: 05/07/2013 02:07 am »
Launch!!...into the clouds and out of view  :(

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Was absolutely pouring down. Vanished into the clouds.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #130 on: 05/07/2013 02:08 am »

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Nominal first stage.
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Staging.

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #134 on: 05/07/2013 02:09 am »
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Staging.

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #136 on: 05/07/2013 02:10 am »
2nd stage sep

and ignition

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #138 on: 05/07/2013 02:11 am »
« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 02:14 am by Prober »
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First burn of the liquid fourth stage.
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First burn complete.
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45 minute coast phase.
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Go EstCube-1!! I'm off to sleep.

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Mr Le Gall as head of CNES.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #145 on: 05/07/2013 02:24 am »
AVUM and payloads now probably in orbit, around 280 x 820 km (but not clear exactly what the parameters are). Next burn at 0259 UTC to go to circular 820 x 820 km for Proba-V deployment.

-----------------------------

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Offline russianhalo117

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #147 on: 05/07/2013 02:30 am »

Do we have an official launch time yet??

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #150 on: 05/07/2013 02:51 am »

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #151 on: 05/07/2013 02:55 am »

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Proba-V sep coming up.
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Second burn first.
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Cut off.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #155 on: 05/07/2013 03:02 am »
Proba-V Sep!

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S/C Sep, but they opted not to show the graphics.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #157 on: 05/07/2013 03:03 am »

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Another 45 minute coast phase.

I'm not going to be able to last that long, so I'll leave it with you guys.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #159 on: 05/07/2013 03:07 am »
Reorienting for third AVUM burn, which will lower perigee to the VNREDSAT deploy altitude. Burn scheduled at 0310 UTC, 3 min from now
-----------------------------

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Third burn completed.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #161 on: 05/07/2013 03:12 am »
Third burn completed.
« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 03:12 am by Artyom. »

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #162 on: 05/07/2013 03:13 am »
Third burn successful, lowered to approx 665 x 820 km orbit. Will coast downwards to perigee; VESPA Upper Part sep at 0358 UTC and fourth burn to circularize at 665 km at 0400 UTC (midnight EDT), then they will separate VNREDSAT.
« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 03:13 am by jcm »
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #163 on: 05/07/2013 03:42 am »
Upper stage about to complete one orbit.

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #164 on: 05/07/2013 04:00 am »
VESPA separation
« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 04:02 am by belegor »

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AVUM 4th burn now on.

SYLDA separation

Apparently this smaller version is called VESPA .
« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 04:01 am by Galactic Penguin SST »
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4th burn completed. Spacecraft Separation coming up.
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VNREDSAT-1 separation!
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ESTCube-1 separation!
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #169 on: 05/07/2013 04:13 am »
AVUM deorbit burn is scheduled for 0423 UTC (another 11 minutes)

Unfortunately they probably won't cover it on the webcast.
« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 04:13 am by jcm »
-----------------------------

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« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 04:26 am by Galactic Penguin SST »
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #171 on: 05/07/2013 04:33 am »
Webcast over after the usual congratulatory speeches.
-----------------------------

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http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1042-success.asp

Vega marks a series of “firsts” on its initial mission under Arianespace’s operational responsibility

May 7, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02

Arianespace’s light-lift Vega launcher performed an intricate mission from the Spaceport today, successfully delivering three satellite passengers at two different Sun-synchronous orbital altitudes during a flight lasting just over two hours.

It was Vega’s second launch from French Guiana, and further demonstrated the capabilities of a vehicle that completes Arianespace’s launcher family – joining its medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5.


Under a steady rain, Vega’s P80 solid propellant first stage is ignited to begin the light-lift launcher’s 2-hour mission from the Spaceport to deploy the Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 satellite payloads.
Today’s mission, designated Flight VV02 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system, included numerous “firsts” for Vega.  Arianespace assumed Vega operations responsibility for the first time on this mission, which followed the lightweight launcher’s February 2012 qualification flight performed under responsibility of the European Space Agency (ESA).

The launch also marked the initial use of a multi-payload dispenser called VESPA (Vega Secondary Payload Adapter), which carried the Proba-V satellite atop it, while the VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 spacecraft were installed inside the system.  Additionally, VREDSat-1became the initial commercial satellite lofted by Vega.

In another first, today’s mission was the debut of the Europe Space Agency’s VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) flight series to demonstrate the launcher’s flexibility and versatility.

Lifting off May 6 in rainy French Guiana conditions, Vega departed the Spaceport’s SLV launch facility at the planned precise moment of liftoff at 11:06:31 p.m. and disappeared into the cloud cover.

After the initial powered phase performed by Vega’s three solid propellant stages (designated the P80, Zefiro-23 and Zefiro-9), the launcher’s AVUM upper stage was ignited for four separate burns during the payload deployment sequence.  A final burn was planned to deorbit the upper stage – ensuring it does not remain as a debris threat.  The AVUM has a bipropellant propulsion system to provide orbital injection, along with a monopropellant propulsion system for roll and attitude control.

The Proba-V satellite was released first during the flight profile, with this passenger injected into orbit with a targeted altitude of 820 km.  Proba-V (which is named from the acronym: Project for On-Board Autonomy and Vegetation) is part of the European Space Agency’s Proba spacecraft series that supports the development of new space technologies.  Its primary objective is to continue the mission performed by Earth-monitoring Vegetation instruments carried on the Spot 4 and 5 satellites – which also were launched by Arianespace – and is designed to offer global coverage every two days for data on the influence of climate, the management of resources for surface water, monitoring of changes in agricultural zones, and food security estimates.

Proba-V was built by QinetiQ Space Belgium, and weighed approximately 140 kg. at launch.

The VNREDSat-1 optical satellite was separated in the second step of today’s mission, providing a resource for Vietnam’s initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing natural resource management for the country.  This 115-kg.-class spacecraft was built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).

Completing the mission was Vega’s deployment of ESTCube-1, Estonia’s first satellite.  The 1.33-kg. cubesat will extend a small conductive tether for testing of electric solar wind sail technologies, and also is to help establish an Estonian infrastructure for future space projects.

Both ESTCube-1 and VNREDSat-1 were deployed by Vega into orbits with a targeted altitude of 665 km., completing the 2-hour, 48-second flight on May 7.

Vega is tailored for launching 1,500-kg.-class payloads to a reference altitude of 700 km., providing Arianespace with a vehicle capable of accommodating scientific, governmental and commercial satellites.  It was developed in an European Space Agency program financed by Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden.   The Vega launcher’s design authority and prime contractor is Italy’s ELV company – a joint venture of Avio and the Italian Space Agency.

Arianespace’s next mission from the Spaceport is scheduled for June 5, using an Ariane 5 to orbit the European Automated Transfer Vehicle named after Albert Einstein.  It will be followed by a Soyuz flight – also scheduled in June – with the first four satellites for O3b Networks.  Completing Arianespace’s current launcher family activity at the Spaceport are preparations for another Ariane 5 mission, planned for the second half of July with the Alphasat and Insat-3D satellites.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #173 on: 05/07/2013 05:07 am »
First object now cataloged: 39159/2013-021A in 787 x 828 km x 98.7 deg orbit.
(relative to 6378 km spherical surface)
This is presumably Proba-V; perhaps not quite as circular as planned, if these
early elements are accurate.
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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #174 on: 05/07/2013 07:51 am »
Second Vega launch by Arianespace a success: Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 in orbit
 
Kourou, May 7, 2013
 
On Monday, May 6, 2013 at 11:06 pm local time in French Guiana, Arianespace successfully launched the second Vega rocket from the Guiana space Center (CSG), orbiting the Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 satellites.


Second successful Vega launch from CSG

With Ariane 5, Soyuz and now Vega all operating from the Guiana Space Center, Arianespace is the only launch services operator in the world capable of launching all types of payloads into all types of orbits, from the largest to the smallest geostationary satellites, clusters of satellites for constellations and missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
 
Vega is designed to launch payloads in the 1,500 kg class into orbit at an altitude of 700 km, which means that Europe now has a new launcher capable of handling all scientific and government missions, along with commercial launches.

Arianespace has now performed two launches from the Guiana Space Center in 2013, one with the Ariane 5 rocket and one with Vega. Starsem, the company's Euro-Russian joint venture, has also carried out a Soyuz launch in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. From now until the end of the year, Arianespace plans eight more launches from the Guiana Space Center.

Arianespace at the service of Earth observation and sustainable development

With today's launch, Arianespace is continuing its partnership with the scientific community, especially for Earth observation missions, by validating innovative satellite concepts in orbit.

The partnership started back in 1986 with the launch of the first Spot remote sensing satellite. To date, Arianespace has now launched five Spot satellites, four Helios satellites, two ERS satellites and the huge Envisat satellite.

Proba-V and VNREDSat-1 are the 29th and 30th observation satellites launched by Arianespace. ESTCube-1 is Estonia’s first space program.
 
When announcing the mission success, Arianespace Chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël said: “Well done everybody, congratulation to the European Space Agency, the Italian Space Agency, CNES and all our industrial partners. The success was brought by the joint efforts of thousands of men and women, pioneers of the space adventure. I am proud that Arianespace has completed this mission in the interest of our planet and its sustainable development. This success is a perfect illustration of the services which Vega, along with Ariane and Soyuz can provide for institutional, scientific and commercial customers. Congratulations to Europe”.
 
Proba-V, VNREDSat-1, ESTCube-1 mission at a glance
 
The mission was carried out by a Vega launcher from the Vega launch complex (SLV) at the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. Liftoff was on Monday, May 6, 2013 at 11:06:31 pm local time in Kourou (10:06:31 pm in Washington, D.C., and on Tuesday, May 7 at 02:06:31 UTC, 4:06:31 am in Paris, and 9:06:31 am in Hanoi).

Proba-V
Proba-V (Project for On-Board Autonomy and Vegetation) is the fourth satellite in the Proba series developed by ESA, and is designed to support the development of new space technologies. Its main objective is to continue the mission performed by the Vegetation instrument carried on Spot 4 and 5. Built by QinetiQ Space Belgium and weighing 138.2 kg, Proba-V was placed into the same orbit as the Spot remote-sensing satellites: Sun-synchronous orbit at 820 km, with local time of descending node at 10:45.

VNREDSat-1
 The VNREDSat-1A Earth observation satellite, launched for the Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology, was mounted in the lower position on the VESPA multiple payload adapter used for this mission.VNREDSat-1 will not only monitor the impact of climate change, but also take measurements used to generate predictions that will help anticipate natural disasters. It will enable Vietnam to optimize the management of its natural resources. The satellite was placed in Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 665 km to carry out its optical observation mission, with local time of descending node at 10:42. Weighing 115 kg, VNREDSat-1 was built by Astrium, which supplied the complete satellite and ground receiving system to Vietnam.

ESTCube-1
 ESTCube-1 is the first Estonian satellite, designed and built in Estonia by a team of students at the National University of Tartu, under the supervision of the Estonian Space Office. Mounted in the VESPA payload adaptor, this nano-satellite's main mission is to measure the loads that could be applied to electric solar sails.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2013/5-7-2013-VV02-launch.asp
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #175 on: 05/07/2013 07:54 am »
Press Release 
N°12-2013 
 
Paris, 7 May 2013   
 
ESA’s Vega launcher scores new success with Proba-V 
 
The second flight of ESA’s newest launch vehicle has been completed from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Two Earth observation satellites, ESA’s Proba-V and Vietnam’s VNREDSat 1A, were released into different orbits, demonstrating the rocket’s versatility. Estonia’s first satellite, the ESTCube 1 technology demonstrator, was also released into orbit. 
 
Vega lifted off at 02:06 GMT on 7 May (23:06 local time 6 May; 04:06 CEST 7 May) on a complex mission requiring five upper-stage boosts and lasting about twice as long as its first launch, in February 2012.   
 
The three solid-propellant stages performed flawlessly and, after two burns of the liquid-propellant upper stage, Proba V was released into a circular orbit at an altitude of 820 km, over the western coast of Australia, some 55 minutes into flight.   
 
The satellite is now being controlled by ESA’s centre in Redu, Belgium, where it is undergoing a health check and testing before the operational phase starts to monitor the vegetation coverage on Planet Earth.   
 
After releasing Proba-V, the upper stage performed a third burn and the top half of the egg-shaped Vega Secondary Payload Adapter was ejected. After a fourth burn to circularise the orbit at an altitude of 704 km, VNREDSat-1A was released 1 hour 57 minutes into flight. ESTCube 1 was ejected from its dispenser three minutes later.   
 
A fifth and last burn will now place the spent upper stage on a trajectory that ensures a safe reentry that complies with new debris mitigation regulations. 
 
“It is another great day for ESA, for its Member States and for Europe. Thanks to decisions taken by Member States, ESA and European industry are demonstrating once again their capabilities of innovation. Among the Member States, special mention goes to Italy which has led the Vega Programme, Belgium which has led the Proba projects at ESA, and France which has led the development and maintenance of the European spaceport here in Kourou. We are also proud to have made possible the launch of the first satellite from Estonia. ,” said Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of ESA.   
 
The flight was conducted under the Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment programme (VERTA) that aims at demonstrating the versatility of the launch system. It also marked the start of the transition from ESA to Arianespace as launch operator. Arianespace provided flight analysis, preparation and operations, and the marketing that secured VNREDSat 1A as Vega’s first commercial payload.   
 
This second mission demonstrated Vega’s capability to launch multiple satellite stacks with the new VESPA multiple launch adapter, as well as its overall flexibility.   
 
It also introduced new flight software developed by contractor ELV and a new tracking station in the northwest of French Guiana that ensures telemetry links during some phases of the flight when they could be affected by the plume from the solid propellants.   
 
“Vega has confirmed that it is ready to deliver a high-quality service for small payloads to low Earth orbit,” said Antonio Fabrizi, ESA’s Director of Launchers. “Europe now has the capability to serve both the government and commercial market in this growing market segment.   
 
“Since the qualification flight one year ago, the marketplace has warmly embraced the arrival of Vega, and today we launched the first commercial satellite.”   
 
The Proba V primary payload is a 138,2 kg satellite built by Qinetiq Space Belgium..   
 
“With the launch of this third Proba satellite, ESA’s small satellite series has come of age,” notes Franco Ongaro, ESA Director of Technical and Quality Management.   
 
“This flight affirms ESA’s capacity to provide concepts and flexible mission designs that address specific needs in a short time. Proba V will be an operational satellite as soon as it is commissioned, supplying data to an eagerly waiting community.   
 
“In addition, it continues the tradition of being a technology demonstrator for innovative technology that will benefit the wider European space community for years to come.” 
 
Proba V is based on the platform flown on two previous ESA missions and carries the Vegetation imager to map global vegetation cover every two days, as a follow-on to the first generation of Vegetation imagers on France’s Spot-4 and -5 satellites.   
 
Proba-V is flying in the same orbit as Spot-5 in order to take over from the ageing satellite on its retirement next year. Vegetation is a high-technology optical imager designed to provide 350 m-resolution imagery in four visible and infrared bands with an impressive 2250 km swath width that will allow daily coverage of all areas within 35–75ºN and 35–56ºS. These data will be processed and provided to a wide community of international users, including the European Commission. 
 
In addition to this primary payload, Proba also hosts a series of technology payloads such as  a receiver to detect aircraft in flight around the globe,  a communications amplifier based on the latest gallium nitride technology, a novel pair of radiation monitors and a photonics experiment testing fibre optics for space. 
 
More information on Proba can be found at: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions 
   
VNREDSat-1A (Vietnam Natural Resources, Environment, Disaster Satellite) is a 115,3 kg commercial remote sensing satellite built by Astrium for Vietnam’s Academy of Sciences and Technologies. Its launch was contracted through Arianespace in January. 
 
ESTCube-1 is Estonia’s first satellite. This 1.3 kg CubeSat was designed and built by students from the University of Tartu with a contribution from the Finnish Meteorological Institute. It will deploy a 10 m-long tether to demonstrate electrostatic manoeuvring through the plasma flow, which could lead to electrostatic solar sails for propellantless interplanetary travel. 
 
About Vega 
 
As technology advances allow satellites to shrink, demand is increasing for smaller satellites, in particular for scientific and Earth observation missions. As an affordable response to European institutional needs and to maintain its competitiveness in the world’s launch services market, Europe has developed the Vega launch system.   
 
Vega is able to inject payloads of up to 1.5 tonne into low polar orbits at altitudes of 300–1500 km. With a length of 30 m and a diameter of 3 m, it has three solid-propellant stages (P80, Zefiro-23 and Zefiro-9) and a liquid-propellant stage (AVUM: Attitude and Vernier Upper Module). Unlike most small launchers, it is able to place multiple payloads in orbit.   
 
The VERTA programme covers a batch of five missions to demonstrate the flexibility of the system, promoting the smooth introduction of the vehicle for commercial exploitation.   
Seven ESA Member States (Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden) are contributing to the Vega programme. The industrial prime contractor is ELV SpA, 70% of which is owned by Avio SpA and 30% by Italy’s ASI space agency.   
 
The flight manifest for Vega is currently: Kazakhstan’s DZZ-HR high-resolution remote sensing satellite (2014), the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle reentry demonstrator (2014), the LISA Pathfinder mission to demonstrate the technologies for the future Laser Interferometer Space Antenna gravity-wave detection mission (2015), and the Aeolus satellite to map Earth’s wind profiles (2015).   
 
More information on Vega at: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Vega 
 
Jacques :-)

Online Galactic Penguin SST

More launch shots from ESA - the pouring rain gives a bizarre feeling to the launch (especially with the rocket running on solids - never seen such a combination before!):  :P
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Offline Rocket Science

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #177 on: 05/07/2013 09:42 am »
Congrats to all the teams, well done! :)
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline input~2

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #178 on: 05/07/2013 10:08 am »
First object now cataloged: 39159/2013-021A in 787 x 828 km x 98.7 deg orbit.
(relative to 6378 km spherical surface)
This is presumably Proba-V; perhaps not quite as circular as planned, if these
early elements are accurate.

2 more objects have been catalogued:
2013-021B/ 30160 in 670 x 674 km x 98.14° (at 0729UTC)
2013-021D/ 39162 in 670 x 815 km x 98.74° (at 0706UTC)

Online robertross

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #179 on: 05/07/2013 11:56 am »
Congrats all around!

Thanks for the late night coverage guys...I know I couldn't last

Online Chris Bergin

Well done guys, thanks!
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Offline jcm

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #181 on: 05/07/2013 01:19 pm »
Now cataloged:

 
 39159 21A   Proba-V                787 x 828 km x 98.7 deg
 39160 21B  VNRedSat-1A          669 x 673 km x 98.1 deg
 39161 21C   ESTCube-1            658 x 670 km x 98.1 deg
 39162 21D   VESPA Upper Part   670 x 815 km x 98.7 deg 
 
 

Only one TLE set so far for Proba (vs 3 for VNREDSAT) so they may not have
locked up on it yet, we'll see when they get a second elset.

« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 01:20 pm by jcm »
-----------------------------

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Offline jcm

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #182 on: 05/07/2013 01:23 pm »
And the failure to catalog the AVUM stage presumably means it was successfully deorbited, which was the last part of mission success I was waiting to hear about
(they made a big deal about how space debris reduction was important to them,
so shouldn't they cover the deorbit burn on an even level with the deployments? Nerdy grumble...)

Congratulations ESA and Arianespace!
-----------------------------

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http://planet4589.org

Offline dawei

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #183 on: 05/07/2013 01:38 pm »
I second your nerdy grumble as I prefer to follow along until there is no more telemetry to follow.  But the main thing is it worked and my hearty congratulations to all involved.

Offline edkyle99

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #184 on: 05/07/2013 04:52 pm »
And the failure to catalog the AVUM stage presumably means it was successfully deorbited, which was the last part of mission success I was waiting to hear about
(they made a big deal about how space debris reduction was important to them,
so shouldn't they cover the deorbit burn on an even level with the deployments? Nerdy grumble...)

Congratulations ESA and Arianespace!
A shame that VESPA has to add to the debris problem, at least for a few years until, presumably, it decays.  Perhaps some wrench jockey out there can figure out a way to insert multiple satellites without needing to jettison dispenser parts.

Of course VV-02 only carried a fraction of its payload rating.  I doubt that it will be possible to outright deorbit AVUM on every mission.

 - Ed Kyle
« Last Edit: 05/07/2013 04:55 pm by edkyle99 »

Offline baldusi

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #185 on: 05/07/2013 10:42 pm »
Congratulations to all the Vega team!
I've noticed that the solution to the telemetry blockage by the exhaust plume was solved by building a new telemetry station. Would this also be used by Ariane 6?

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #186 on: 05/07/2013 10:51 pm »
New TLE set for Proba-V shows it in 811 x 820 km, closer to the planned circular orbit. I don't think the sat has propulsion, so the original TLE was just inaccurate.

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Offline woods170

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #187 on: 05/08/2013 06:16 am »
And the failure to catalog the AVUM stage presumably means it was successfully deorbited, which was the last part of mission success I was waiting to hear about
<snip>
Per SFN the AVUM succesfully performed it's fifth burn to deorbit the AVUM stage: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/vega/vv02/status.html

Offline input~2

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #188 on: 05/08/2013 06:18 am »
And the failure to catalog the AVUM stage presumably means it was successfully deorbited, which was the last part of mission success I was waiting to hear about
(they made a big deal about how space debris reduction was important to them,
so shouldn't they cover the deorbit burn on an even level with the deployments? Nerdy grumble...)

Congratulations ESA and Arianespace!
Presumed AVUM impact zone (corresponding to original launch date) see 2nd NOTAM earlier in this thread

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #189 on: 05/08/2013 11:52 pm »
figured I'd add this here:

Canadian firm smartens up new Earth-observing satellite
CBC News Posted: May 8, 2013 1:24 PM ET

A European mini-satellite launched this week will be able to keep a steady eye on Earth's vegetation as it hurtles through orbit, thanks to smart software developed in Canada.

Sherbrooke, Que.-based NGC Aerospace designed the software that makes the PROBA-V satellite capable of automatically maneouvering to maintain the right position and orientation as it takes images of the Earth.

read more here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2013/05/08/technology-satellite-proba-v-ngc-aerospace.html

Offline bolun

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Re: LIVE: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #190 on: 05/17/2013 02:07 pm »
Looking back at Vega’s second flight

17 May 2013
 
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Looking_back_at_Vega_s_second_flight

Quote
Since Vega’s flawless second launch on 7 May from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, checks of the flight’s telemetry show the vehicle performed impeccably.

Quote
The upper stage’s fifth and last burn placed it on a path that ensured safe reentry within an hour, in compliance with new debris mitigation regulations.
 
Initial analysis shows that Vega’s mission was a complete success. A detailed analysis before the summer will verify the behaviour of all the vehicle’s subsystems.
 
Vega’s unrivalled success in its first two flights is an encouraging start in this light-lift launcher’s transition towards commercial operations.

Offline Artyom.

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Re: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #191 on: 08/01/2013 12:13 pm »
ESTCube-1 is on a possible collision course with a space debris. The particle COSMOS 2251 DEB originates from the space junk cloud from the Irridium – Strela 2M collision in 2009. The closest contact is expected tomorrow, on Friday, August 2 at 04.40 UTC over the coastline of Antarctica. According to the United States Joint Space Operations Center, it will most likely be a near miss at about 200 meters. But we all remember the case of Ecuadorian Pegaso nanosatellite, which was destroyed by a space junk on May 23. Let’s all hope we will hear the signals from ESTCube-1 tomorrow at 07:07 UTC, when the first contact after the incident could be established from Estonia. If you choose to “like” this post, you express your support to our brave satellite in orbit, facing the possibility of being struck with energy similar to a simultaneous hit of 14000 rifle bullets.

https://www.facebook.com/estcube

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Re: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #192 on: 08/02/2013 07:22 am »
Quote
ELUS! ALIVE! We got the first signal from ESTCube! Saime esimese signaali tagasi. The satellite is at good health, batteries fully loaded.
https://www.facebook.com/estcube/posts/674299259251679
« Last Edit: 08/02/2013 07:27 am by Artyom. »

Offline GWR64

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Re: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013
« Reply #193 on: 08/22/2023 08:35 pm »
https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1693810817760678191

Quote
Jonathan McDowell
@planet4589
7 new debris objects cataloged from the Vega VV02 launch in a 23:50 LTDN sun-sync orbit, consistent with a breakup of the VESPA adapter upper section, object 39162. Possibly the result of an impact by a small object?

The launch at Celestrak. You can see from the NORAD numbers, that the objects E-L are new.
https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/table.php?INTDES=2013-021

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