Vega-C VV21, maiden flight - LARES 2 - 13 July 2022 (13:13 UTC)

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/Avio_Group/status/1530066273199042561

#InsideVega

#VegaC @Vega_sts
 is now integrated on the launchpad at @EuropeSpacePort
 and waiting for the avionic tests. The maiden flight is getting closer and closer 🚀 #StayTuned @esa

[zubenelgenubi]

SN, Arianespace narrows Vega C and Ariane 6 maiden flight windows, June 1
My bold

Vivian Quenet, Arianespace’s managing director and head of sales for the Asia-Pacific region, announced the timetable during a fireside chat at Asia Satellite Business Week in Singapore {on June 1}.

“After that one [Ariane 5 launch] {VA257} we will have the maiden flight of the Vega C” in {the} first week of July, Quenet said, and then “towards the end of the year, we have the maiden flight of Ariane 6, which is our heavy launcher which will replace Ariane 5.”

[gongora]

https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1534177342003810308

The European Space Agency has set a date and launch time for the debut flight of the Vega C rocket: July 7, from French Guiana, at 11:13 UTC.

[Rondaz]

ESA announced the launch date of the first Vega-C launch!

VV21 is scheduled to launch on July 7 at 11:13 UTC (07:13 EST). The first launch will deploy the Italian LARES-2 satellite and six European research CubeSats into orbit.

https://twitter.com/EuropeSpace360/status/1534184381635518464

[sts9]

Vega-C inaugural launch: mission highlights

Animated preview of flight VV21 illustrates gantry rollout and liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, stage and fairing separations, and deployment of the Italian Space Agency’s LARES-2 scientific payload and six research CubeSats. Vega-C represents a dramatic capability boost compared to its predecessor, Vega, which has flown since 2012. With new first and second stages and an uprated fourth stage, Vega-C increases performance from Vega’s 1.5 t to about 2.2 t in a reference 700 km polar orbit and handles larger payloads.

https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation

https://dlmultimedia.esa.int/download/public/videos/2022/06/005/2206_005_AR_EN.mp4

[sts9]

CNES Photos Vega-C VV21

https://phototheque.cnes.fr/cnes/category/1717

Lares-2

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/Avio_Group/status/1535301024692543488

The #VegaC @Vega_sts
 maiden flight campaign doesn't stop! The #Lares2 payload, payload adapter and fairing are now in the processing facility. The Avio and @esa
 teams are preparing for the avionic tests ahead of the loading of the upper stage propellant

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1535355889363865610

Comparison LARES and LARES-2.
LARES is smaller and has a higher density. The alloy consists almost entirely of tungsten.
LARES-2 has a lower density. The metal ball is made of the Ni-Mo-Cr alloy Haynes 242.
Edit: Haynes 242 was examined. The actual Ni-alloy used is still unknown.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350459816_Haynes_242_Alloy_for_Lares_2_Satellite

[Steven Pietrobon]

According to the link below LARES 2 has a mass of only 295 kg and a diameter of 0.424 m. However, it will going to a 6000 km 70° orbit.

https://www.lares-mission.com/LARES_2.asp

[GWR64]

According to the link below LARES 2 has a mass of only 295 kg and a diameter of 0.424 m. However, it will going to a 6000 km 70° orbit.

https://www.lares-mission.com/LARES_2.asp

Asi once mentioned 395 kg there. ( I can't reach the original ASI page at the moment. )
https://newspaceglobal.com/pre-shipment-review-held-on-lares2-platform-for-first-vega-c-launch
However, that was probably a mistake.
295 or about 300 kg say other current publications.

...
LARES-2 has a lower density. The metal ball is made of the Ni-Mo-Cr alloy Haynes 242.
Edit: Haynes 242 was examined. The actual Ni-alloy used is still unknown.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350459816_Haynes_242_Alloy_for_Lares_2_Satellite

I may have gotten the alloy wrong. The paper published above concludes, that the time until the launch is probably too short, to using Haynes 242 for LARES-2. (not fully understood)
Interesting nonetheless, the paper is from March 2021! Obviously LARES-2 was not yet built at that time.
 

[Rondaz]

Vega C update (now with an authorized image): The LARES 2 primary payload and secondary payloads have been successfully installed onto the payload adapter by teams from @OHB_SE and @Avio. The flight is currently slated for 7 July at 08:13 local time.

https://twitter.com/AndrewParsonson/status/1537017940624789505

[Rondaz]

A few other cool images. Credit: ESA - M. Pedoussaut..

https://twitter.com/AndrewParsonson/status/1537019270084845568

[jacqmans]

Vega-C set for inaugural launch
17/06/2022

ESA’s new medium-lift Vega-C rocket is nearly ready for its inaugural flight, with its four fully-stacked stages now ready for payload integration, final checks and launch from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Flight VV21 will lift off as soon as 7 July, pending suitable conditions for launch.

Vega-C represents a dramatic capability boost compared to its predecessor, Vega, which has flown since 2012. With new first and second stages and an uprated fourth stage, Vega-C increases performance from Vega’s 1.5 t to about 2.2 t in a reference 700 km polar orbit.

Vega-C features a new, more powerful first stage, P120C, based on Vega’s P80. Atop that is a new second stage, Zefiro-40, and then the same Zefiro-9 third stage as used on Vega. 

The re-ignitable upper stage is also improved. AVUM+ has increased liquid propellant capacity, to deliver payloads to multiple orbits depending on mission requirements and to allow for longer operational time in space, to enable extended missions.

The P120C motor will do double service, with either two or four units acting as strap-on boosters for Ariane 6. Sharing this component streamlines industrial efficiency and improves cost-effectiveness of both launchers.

With its larger main stages and bigger fairing – which doubles the payload volume compared to Vega – Vega-C measures 34.8 m high, nearly 5 m taller than Vega.

The new launcher configuration delivers a significant improvement in launch system flexibility. Vega-C can orbit larger satellites, two main payloads or can accommodate various arrangements for rideshare missions. ESA’s upcoming Space Rider return-to-Earth vehicle will be launched to orbit on Vega-C.

https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Vega-C_set_for_inaugural_launch

[Rondaz]

ESA’s new medium-lift #VegaC rocket, built by @Avio_Group , is nearly ready for its first flight. Flight #VV21 will lift off as soon as 7 July, pending suitable conditions for launch. The main payload is LARES-2, a mission of @ASI_spazio.

https://twitter.com/vega_sts/status/1537322854915645442

[Steven Pietrobon]

https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Vega-C_set_for_inaugural_launch
[dated April 7]

"Six CubeSats make a secondary payload package. AstroBio CubeSat (Italy) will test a solution for detecting biomolecules in space. Greencube (Italy) carries an experiment to grow plants in microgravity. ALPHA (Italy) aims to help understand phenomena related to Earth’s magnetosphere, such as the Northern and Southern Lights.

Three other CubeSats – Trisat-R (Slovenia), MTCube-2 (France) and Celesta (France) will study the effects of a harsh radiation environment on electronic systems."

[bolun]

https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Vega-C_inaugural_flight_VV21_media_kit

Vega-C inaugural flight VV21 media kit

[zubenelgenubi]

Rideshares = SSMS #4

Arianespace has updated their rideshare mission opportunities page:

https://smallsats.arianespace.com/opportunities

Vega-C rideshares:

Launches in the immediate future:

2022 Planned Launches:
Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)

July 13 late Jun/early Jul 2021 early 2022 Q1 NLT Mar NET Apr NET late Apr/Q2 May early?Jun late Jun Jul week 1 7 NET 13 - LARES 2, SSMS #4: ALPHA, AstroBio CubeSat (ABCS), CELESTA (ROBUSTA 1D), GreenCube, Robusta MTCube 2 (ROBUSTA 1E), Trisat-R - Vega C (VV21 VV19 VV21? VV22? VV21?) [inaugural flight] - Kourou ZLV - 13:13:17 Jul 7 11:13 NET Jul 13 11:13 Jul 13 11:13 Jul 13 12:13
(previous launch VA257 on June 22; approximately 2 weeks between CSG launches; approximately 6 weeks minimum between Vega launches)

Changes on January 18th, 2021
Changes on March 19th, 2021
Changes on July 21st, 2021
Changes on November 8th, 2021
Changes on November 16th, 2021
Changes on December 14th, 2021
Changes on December 16th, 2021
Changes on January 2nd, 2022
Changes on January 18th, 2022
Changes on January 19th, 2022
Changes on April 7th, 2022
Changes on April 8th, 2022
Changes on May 10th, 2022
Changes on May 19th, 2022
Changes on June 1st, 2022
Changes on June 6th, 2022
Changes on June 7th, 2022
Changes on July 4th, 2022
Changes on July 6th, 2022
Changes on July 13th, 2022
zubenelgenubi

[SpaceFinnOriginal]

ESA’s new medium-lift #VegaC rocket, built by @Avio_Group , is nearly ready for its first flight. Flight #VV21 will lift off as soon as 7 July, pending suitable conditions for launch. The main payload is LARES-2, a mission of @ASI_spazio.

https://twitter.com/vega_sts/status/1537322854915645442

Can anyone upload mission patch and Vega logo shown on the photos?
 

[SpaceFinnOriginal]

According to the link below LARES 2 has a mass of only 295 kg and a diameter of 0.424 m. However, it will going to a 6000 km 70° orbit.

https://www.lares-mission.com/LARES_2.asp

This LARES looks very Sci-Fi, like some kind of mega-bomb-star-destroyer from may be Star Wars


So, nobody have Vega-C logo?

[Rondaz]

The #VV21 payloads have been encapsulated inside the #VegaC payload fairing.

📸ESA - M. Pedoussaut..

https://twitter.com/DELTA_V/status/1543942239570825219