Author Topic: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & AlmaSat-1 & 7 cubesats - February 13, 2012  (Read 108320 times)

Offline bolun

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Vega arrives in French Guiana in preparation for its January inaugural launch

October 25, 2011 – Vega Flight VV01

The first lightweight Vega was delivered to the Spaceport today, with this latest member of Arianespace’s expanded launcher family arriving only days after the service entry of its other new vehicle – the medium-lift Soyuz.

Vega came to French Guiana aboard the MN Colibri roll-on/roll-off ship, which docked yesterday at Kourou’s Pariacabo Port after a two-week Atlantic crossing from Europe, and was unloaded this morning for the launcher’s transfer by road to the Spaceport.

The four-stage Vega’s first flight has been set for next January 26, carrying LARES (LAser RElativity Satellite) and nine cubesat educational payloads of varying sizes.

This inaugural launch will be a qualification mission performed under responsibility of the European Space Agency, since the vehicle represents a totally new configuration.  As its future operator, Arianespace is heavily involved in the launch – including having one of its team members assigned the role as Launch Site Operations Manager.

Vega will lift off from the Spaceport’s ZLV launch site, which originally was used for the Ariane 1 and Ariane 3 vehicles. 

Planning calls for Vega’s first mission campaign to begin on November 7 with rollout of its P80 first stage to the launch pad, followed during the subsequent weeks by stacking of the Zefiro 23 second stage and Zefiro 9 third stage – all of which are loaded with solid-propellant.

Claude-Henri Berna, the Arianespace Vega program director in French Guiana, said a progress review will be held on December 7 to authorize a continuation of the final integration process – allowing the bi-propellant Attitude and Vernier Upper Module (AVUM) to be mated atop the launcher, and final operations to begin with the mission’s multi-spacecraft payload.

Vega is produced by Italian prime contractor ELV, and will join Arianespace’s launcher family as the lightweight vehicle.  It will be operated from French Guiana along with the medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5, providing Arianespace with a complete vehicle inventory capable of orbiting the full range of payloads – from small scientific and institutional satellites to the largest telecommunications relay platforms and resupply spacecraft for the International Space Station.

Using Arianespace’s numbering system, the maiden Vega flight is designated VV01, with the first “V” representing the French word for flight (“vol”), and the second letter referring to Vega.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/861.asp
« Last Edit: 07/27/2013 10:00 am by Jester »

Offline john smith 19

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #1 on: 10/27/2011 01:25 pm »
I think this means it's about 4 years behind its original predicted first launch date.

That said this will be the first *major* engine to use electromechanical actuators for TVC.

it is a major achievement for Italian industry.

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Online jacqmans

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #2 on: 10/28/2011 12:18 pm »
Press Release
N°30-2011

Paris, 28 October 2011

Vega getting ready for exploitation

The Vega launch vehicle programme has recently taken several major steps towards operation:

•the decision has been made to start the qualification launch campaign

•ESA and Arianespace have ordered four new launchers

•studies for the launch of the LISA Pathfinder mission have started

Launch campaign kickoff

The Flight Readiness Review (FFR) for the Vega launcher was held in Frascati, Italy on October 13 and 14. Based on this review, the Director-General of the European Space Agency (ESA) decided to start the Vega qualification launch campaign, with Arianespace's operating staff providing their support for this campaign. The stages for the qualification launcher arrived in Kourou on October 24, and the launch campaign will start on November 7, 2011 with the transfer of the first stage to the launch pad. The first launch is scheduled for the end of January 2012.

ESA and Arianespace have ordered four new Vega launchers

ESA, Arianespace and ELV, the launcher production prime, signed a contract in September for the production of four new Vega operational launchers. This contract complements the purchase of a first launcher in an agreement signed last year within the framework of the Verta contract, covering the five launches that follow Vega’s qualification flight.

Studies under way for the LISA Pathfinder mission

The studies for the launch of the LISA Pathfinder scientific satellite of ESA, using a Vega launcher from the Verta batch, started at the end of September. The mission is scheduled for a launch window from October 2013 to September 2014.


A small launcher for Europe

Vega is Europe’s new, small launcher. Its performance will perfectly complement that of the heavy Ariane 5 and medium Soyuz rockets. It is designed to cope with a wide range of missions and payload configurations in order to respond to different market opportunities. In particular, it offers configurations able to handle payloads ranging from a single satellite up to one main satellite plus six microsatellites.

Vega is compatible with payload masses ranging from 300 kg to 2500 kg, depending on the type and altitude of the orbit required by the customers. The benchmark is for 1500 kg into a 700 km-altitude polar orbit.

Vega is an ESA programme funded by Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden

The industrial prime contractor is ELV SpA, 70% of which is owned by Avio SpA and 30% by ASI. ELV is responsible for the development and production of the launcher and for its delivery and integration at the launch site.

As the future Vega launch service provider, Arianespace is responsible for launch operations.
Jacques :-)

Offline bolun

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #3 on: 11/11/2011 01:08 pm »
First Vega launch campaign aims for January liftoff
 
11 November 2011

The first Vega launch campaign began on Monday at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana with the installation of the first stage on the pad. Europe’s new small launcher is on track for its maiden flight at the end of January.

The hundred-tonne solid-propellant first stage, the P80, was moved from the Booster Integration Building to the pad on 7 November using the ‘Fardier’ heavyweight transporter.

As with the transfer of Ariane 5’s boosters, safety measures minimised the number of operators on site and evacuated nearby buildings. 
 
With the P80 installed inside the mobile gantry, all ground installations are now being configured for the booster’s final acceptance, including the Thrust Vector Control system that swivels the large nozzle for steering.

In the coming weeks, the two solid-propellant second and third stages, the Zefiro-23 and Zefiro-9, will be transferred from the Vega Booster Storage and Preparation Building and added to the vehicle.

Before the end of the year, after the Flight Readiness Review, the AVUM – Attitude & Vernier Upper Module – fourth stage, will be integrated.

Final preparations for launch
 
In parallel to the launcher activities, the satellites are being prepared at the spaceport.

By the end of the year the LARES laser relativity satellite from Italy’s ASI space agency together with at least six small CubeSats and ALMASat-1 from European universities will be ready and enclosed in the fairing.

The campaign will continue in January with the integration of the ‘upper composite’ – the fairing and payload – followed by final check-out of the fully integrated launcher and the countdown rehearsal.

This Vega qualification flight will pave the way for the next five missions that will demonstrate the system’s flexibility as part of the VERTA – Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment – programme.
 
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMC2OTWLUG_index_0.html
 

Offline antonioe

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #4 on: 11/14/2011 01:15 am »
I think this means it's about 4 years behind its original predicted first launch date.

Uhhh... I don't think so...
Prediction DatePredicted 1st LaunchCitation
Sep-98Dec-02http://esapub.esrin.esa.it/rfs/rfs18/CAPORICCI.pdf
Dec-00Jan-05http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/vega_funding_001219.html
Mar-03 Jun-06http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Vega_Launcher_To_Orbit_Smaller_Payloads_In_Arianespace_Service.html
Nov-05Dec-07http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/VEGA.pdf
Jan-08Dec-08http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_Access_to_Space/ASEKMU0TCNC_0.html
Quote
That said this will be the first *major* engine to use electromechanical actuators for TVC.

Define *major*...

Quote
it is a major achievement for Italian industry.

Certamente!  Alongside all (but one) of the US-side ISS modules, the ISS cupola and the Cygnus PCM...
« Last Edit: 11/14/2011 01:26 am by antonioe »
ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS...

Offline woods170

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #5 on: 11/14/2011 08:33 am »
Yeah, more like some nine (9) years late.

Online Salo

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #6 on: 11/14/2011 01:35 pm »
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMC2OTWLUG_index_0.html
Quote
By the end of the year the LARES laser relativity satellite from Italy’s ASI space agency together with at least six small CubeSats and ALMASat-1 from European universities will be ready and enclosed in the fairing.

Offline bolun

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #7 on: 11/14/2011 07:23 pm »
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEM3L0WWVUG_0.html
Quote
The ESA Cubs have been developed by more than 250 university students from six different countries over the last 4 years. Each CubeSat carries its own scientific or technology demonstration payload. The six CubeSats to be launched on Vega in late January 2012 comprise:

- Xatcobeo (a collaboration of the University of Vigo and INTA, Spain): a mission to demonstrate software-defined radio and solar panel deployment;

- Robusta (University of Montpellier 2, France): a mission to test and evaluate radiation effects (low dose rate) on bipolar transistor electronic components;

- e-st@r (Politecnico di Torino, Italy): demonstration of an active 3-axis Attitude Determination and Control system including an inertial measurement unit;

- Goliat (University of Bucharest, Romania): imaging of the Earth surface using a digital camera and in-situ measurement of radiation dose and micrometeoroid flux;

- PW-Sat (Warsaw University of Technology, Poland): a mission to test a deployable atmospheric drag augmentation device for de-orbiting CubeSats;

- MaSat-1 (Budapest University of Technology and Economics): a mission to demonstrate various spacecraft avionics, including a power conditioning system, transceiver and on-board data handling.

A seventh CubeSat is planned to be delivered, installed in a third P-POD and tested during the next two weeks.

Offline Space Lizard

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #8 on: 11/16/2011 06:39 am »
That said this will be the first *major* engine to use electromechanical actuators for TVC.

it is a major achievement for Italian industry.

Actually, the EMAs are built by SABCA of Belgium, which already provides hydraulic actuators on Ariane 5 booster stages.
I watch rockets

Offline bolun

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #9 on: 11/16/2011 04:47 pm »
CubeSats
 
Up to nine CubeSats built by European Universities will be flown during the debut of Europe's new Vega launch vehicle at the beginning of 2012. Together they represent a diverse range of designs and a variety of miniaturised technologies and sensors.

Up to nine CubeSats will be accommodated in three P-POD deployment systems which are to be mounted on the LARES primary payload. Each 1 kg CubeSat will be deployed into a high inclination, low Earth orbit, and is expected to operate in orbit for up to four years using a small ground station based at its respective university.

- Project: CubeSats
- Level: University
- Status: 6 CubeSats delivered - others pending

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEM3N03MDAF_0.html
« Last Edit: 11/16/2011 04:55 pm by bolun »

Offline bolun

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #10 on: 12/14/2011 08:53 pm »

Online jacqmans

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #11 on: 12/15/2011 02:44 pm »
Vega moves closer to its first liftoff

15 December 2011

The integration of Vega’s first, second and third stages is now complete at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The new rocket is moving full speed ahead towards its maiden flight at the end of January.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMS0T7XZVG_index_0.html
Jacques :-)

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #12 on: 12/17/2011 07:50 am »
Vega’s solid-propellant third stage is installed on top of the launcher earlier this month in French Guiana as this new lightweight vehicle is readied for its maiden flight from the Spaceport in 2012.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/vs02-success.asp
Jacques :-)

Offline bolun

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #13 on: 12/17/2011 10:51 am »
ESA’s CubeSats ready for flight
 
16 December 2011

http://www.esa.int/esaMI/Education/SEMG1C8XZVG_0.html

Quote
- Xatcobeo (a collaboration of the University of Vigo and INTA, Spain)
- Robusta (University of Montpellier 2, France)
- E-St@r (Politecnico di Torino, Italy)
- Goliat (University of Bucharest, Romania)
- PW-Sat (Warsaw University of Technology, Poland)
- MaSat-1 (Budapest University of Technology & Economics, Hungary)
- UniCubeSat GG (Universitá di Roma ‘La Sapienza’, Italy)

Quote
The primary payload on the Vega inaugural flight is the spherical Laser Relativity Satellite (LARES), which is installed on-board the LARES System along with AlmaSat-1 (an ASI Educational Satellite built by University of Bologna, Italy), and the P-PODs of the 7 ESA CubeSats.

Offline anik

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #14 on: 12/22/2011 11:50 am »
Jean-Jacques Dordain has told yesterday on Baikonur cosmodrome that the launch is planned in the beginning of February 2012.

Online Salo

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #15 on: 12/22/2011 03:21 pm »
http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/change_log.php
Quote
2011-12-19   Vega ELV First Flight   Launch date slipped to 2/7/2012.

Offline Chris Bergin

We'll see what comes of the launch date. ESA still stating January.

Short baseline article in prep for Vega's debut:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/01/esa-arianespace-closing-in-on-vegas-debut-launch/
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Offline bolun

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Re: Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & 9 cubesats - January 26, 2012
« Reply #17 on: 01/09/2012 09:37 pm »
Is it possible to change the name of the thread?

Vega Flight VV01 - Lares & AlmaSat-1 & 7 cubesats - February 9, 2012

Offline Chris Bergin

Done and done!
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Offline Chris Bergin

Jonathan Amos' BBC article on Vega and the launch date etc.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16480111
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