Author Topic: Vega Flight VV02 - Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A - May 6, 2013  (Read 98011 times)

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 Carrying a newer version of the Vegetation imaging instrument previously flown on the Spot series of Earth observation satellites – which also were orbited by Arianespace – Proba-V will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".
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 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).
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 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

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