Author Topic: ESA - Vega Updates (Vega, Vega-C, Vega-E, etc. 2005 and forward)  (Read 260198 times)

Online Chris Bergin

« Last Edit: 07/21/2021 11:51 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline Terrible Twosome

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #1 on: 12/22/2005 01:20 am »
Cool. Vega is another option that should keep things interesting on access to space.

Offline realtime

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #2 on: 12/22/2005 04:25 am »
Composite case.  Interesting.  Wonder how it would scale to SDLV SRBs?


Offline jacqmans

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #3 on: 09/15/2006 03:05 pm »
First Vega P80 nozzle delivered

15 September 2006

On 14 September 2006 a ceremony took place at the facilities of Snecma Propulsion Solide (SPS) in Bordeaux, France, to mark the occasion of the delivery of the first nozzle for the P80 solid rocket motor. The P80 is the first stage of the Vega small launcher.

The P80 nozzle delivery is a key milestone for the Vega programme. It is the result of several years of intensive development activities, during which Snecma Propulsion Solide performed the detailed definition of the various components of the nozzle, and validated new manufacturing processes. They achieved a major step forward in this area of technology aimed at reducing costs. This is a major event for Vega but it is also a precursor to future updates in the design of Ariane 5 boosters.  

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMHV38LURE_index_0.html

Jacques :-)

Offline meiza

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #4 on: 09/15/2006 03:22 pm »
Why does the Vega program move on so slowly?

Offline nacnud

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #5 on: 09/15/2006 03:39 pm »
Whats the rush, faster is more expensive and Vega is supposed to be cheap.

Offline hektor

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #6 on: 09/16/2006 05:29 pm »
Elon will take care of Vega

Offline MKremer

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #7 on: 09/16/2006 06:42 pm »
Quote
meiza - 15/9/2006  10:09 AM

Why does the Vega program move on so slowly?

There's more than one major (EU, etc.) program and center involved, plus the R&D is being done to apply for more than just the Vega booster application. The more people directly involved, and mangement/program layers and bureaucracies involved, and testing evaluations and approvals required, the longer these sort of things take. (compared with private industrial developments)

Offline edkyle99

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #8 on: 09/29/2006 09:46 pm »
Quote
meiza - 15/9/2006  10:05 AM

Why does the Vega program move on so slowly?

At first, there was a lot of politics that delayed European program approval until 2001.  Then, to gain approval, Vega was morphed a bit into an R&D effort meant to improve the Ariane 5 P80 solid rocket boosters.  This added much time to the development effort, since the current metal P80 cases are being replaced by new carbon epoxy filament wound cases.  There are also new igniters, a new electromechanical TVC, a new HTPB 1912 propellant, new carbon phenolic nozzles, etc.  

The current plan is to fly by the end of 2007, as I understand it.  The second and third stage qualification motor tests were performed earlier this year in Italy.  The first stage motor qual test is set to occur in Kourou in late November.

Then Europe will have a $20-ish million 1.5 tonne to LEO/P launcher in a world with other options, like the $12 million equivalent payload Rokot/Briz KM

 - Ed Kyle

Offline edkyle99

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #9 on: 11/27/2006 06:33 pm »

Offline anik

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #10 on: 11/30/2006 06:06 pm »
Successful firing of Vega’s first-stage motor in Kourou
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMTHGD4VUE_index_0.html

Offline Space Lizard

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #11 on: 11/30/2006 06:48 pm »
Three times smaller than Ariane 5's EAP = three times less smoke.
I watch rockets

Offline edkyle99

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #12 on: 12/01/2006 01:27 am »
ESA seems to downplay P80's status a bit.  Although P80 won't be the heaviest solid rocket motor *segment*, I believe it will be the world's heaviest single-segment solid rocket *motor* in service when it flies.  I suppose it will also have the highest total-impulse of any single-segment solid rocket motor.  Thrust too, probably.

Here is a link to a series of interesting P80 test preperation images.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMD83D4VUE_index_0.html

 - Ed Kyle

Offline edkyle99

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #13 on: 12/01/2006 05:38 pm »
I am attaching a crop of the P80 DM1 test firing image, which provides a nice view of the BEAP (test stand).  The full ESA image is available at:

http://esamultimedia.esa.int/images/launcher/vega/P80_1.jpg

 - Ed Kyle

Offline maskims

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #14 on: 07/24/2007 06:38 am »
http://www.astrium.eads.net/press-center/press-releases/astrium-wins-study-for-new-vega-upper-stage

I'm curious about the "Russian/Ukrainian propulsion system", whether this is about developing a new engine or switching to liquid fuel with an RD-?? type engine like on Zenit.

Offline sammie

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #15 on: 07/24/2007 11:45 am »
Supposedly it will be the RD-861G liquid propellant engine (others give the RD-869 designation). Its an update from an engine used on the Tsyklon 3 LV and Ikar upper stage. It's produced by Yuzhnoye in the Ukraine, although others say Russia took over.
I also remember reading somewhere that the same engine would serve as upper stage on Dnepr. But can't find anything to back that up.

"The dreams ain't broken downhere, they're just walking with a limp"

Offline CentEur

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #16 on: 07/25/2007 11:52 am »
Quote
maskims - 24/7/2007  8:38 AM

http://www.astrium.eads.net/press-center/press-releases/astrium-wins-study-for-new-vega-upper-stage

I'm curious about the "Russian/Ukrainian propulsion system", whether this is about developing a new engine or switching to liquid fuel with an RD-?? type engine like on Zenit.

The news says "The upper stage currently envisaged for Vega, (...) will have a Russian/Ukrainian propulsion system." and then goes on about replacing it with the German VENUS. I understand its engine would be EU made too, otherwise the whole 'Europeanising' becomes doubtful.

Offline maskims

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #17 on: 07/26/2007 06:59 am »
You're right, the Russo-Ukrainian engine mentioned is part of VEGA's current design on the AVUM upper stage. For some reason I thought "upper stage" was referring to VEGA's 3rd stage whose engine Zefiro-9 is Italian mase (by Avio). There's no "switching" to liquid propellant unlike what I said then since AVUM is already liquid-fueled.

However I see that the RD-861G sammie mentions:
http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd861g.htm

doesn't match ESA's description of AVUM's engine:
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/vega/avum.html

So there must still be something I'm missing.

Offline CentEur

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #18 on: 07/26/2007 08:18 am »
Quote
maskims - 26/7/2007  8:59 AM

However I see that the RD-861G sammie mentions:
http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd861g.htm

doesn't match ESA's description of AVUM's engine:
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/vega/avum.html

So there must still be something I'm missing.

There's a typo on ESA AVUM page. Look into VEGA brochure (page 14) and you'll see that AVUM thrust is 2450 kN. Then compare it with the throttled thrust of RD-869. Looks similar to me.  :)

Offline maskims

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Re: ESA - Vega Updates
« Reply #19 on: 07/26/2007 11:25 am »
It does match the RD-869, thanks !

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