Vega VV18 - Pléiades Neo 3 & rideshares - 29 April 2021 (01:50 UTC)

[jacqmans]

April 23, 2021

Arianespace’s 18th Vega mission to orbit Earth observation and scientific satellites

- Arianespace’s upcoming Vega launch, scheduled for April 28, 2021, will orbit Pleiades Neo 3, the first very high-resolution satellite in the new Earth observation constellation operated by Airbus Defence and Space.

– Following the success of Europe’s first rideshare mission last September, Vega Flight 18 (VV18) will deploy five auxiliary payloads using the advanced SSMS (Small Spacecraft Mission Service) structure.

– Both launch production and launch preparations strictly followed the recommendations issued by the Independent Inquiry Commission set up for the previous Vega mission, VV17.


On Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 10:50 pm local time (01:50 UTC on Thursday, April 29), Arianespace’s first Vega mission of the year will lift off from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, with the optical observation satellite Pleiades Neo 3. The first of four satellites in an advanced Earth observation constellation, Pleiades Neo 3 was wholly funded and manufactured by its operator, Airbus.

The 18th mission of Europe’s Vega light launcher will also orbit an observation microsatellite for the Norwegian space agency, Norsat-3, plus four cubesats for the operators Eutelsat, NanoAvionics/Aurora Insight and Spire. These small satellites will be carried as auxiliary payloads on the innovative Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) deployment system. The SSMS rideshare service, developed with the support of the European space industry, was first deployed by Arianespace in September 2020. Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), Arianespace’s SSMS service will soon be joined by the Multiple Launch Service (MLS), a similar offering that uses the Ariane 6 launch vehicle. With these two services, Arianespace can offer a wide range of affordable launch opportunities for small satellites and constellations.

After liftoff from the Guiana Space Center, the Vega launcher will fly for a little over six minutes, powered by the first three stages. The third stage will then fall back after separating from the upper composite, which comprises the AVUM upper stage, the Pleiades Neo 3 satellite, the SSMS and its five auxiliary passengers. The AVUM stage will ignite its engine for the first time, in a powered phase lasting about eight minutes, followed by a ballistic phase lasting 37 minutes. The AVUM stage will then restart its engine for a second burn lasting a little over one minute, before releasing the Pleiades Neo 3 satellite. The next two AVUM ignition phases will last about 37 minutes in all, followed by the release of the five auxiliary payloads. That will mark the end of mission VV18, one hour and 42 minutes after liftoff.

The production of the Vega launcher and preparations for mission VV18 were meticulously overseen by Avio, industrial prime contractor for the Vega launcher, under the direction of Arianespace and ESA. They followed all recommendations issued by the Independent Inquiry Commission set up after the failure of the 17th Vega mission (VV17).

https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/arianespaces-18th-vega-mission-to-orbit-earth-observation-and-scientific-satellites/

[PM3]

The 18th mission of Europe’s Vega light launcher will also orbit an observation microsatellite for the Norwegian space agency, Norsat-3, plus four cubesats for the operators Eutelsat, NanoAvionics/Aurora Insight and Spire.

So we have:

- Pleiades Neo 3
- Norsat-3
- ELO Alpha = Tyvak-182A (Eutelsat)
- Bravo (NanoAvionics/Aurora Insight)
- 2 x Lemur-2 (Spire)

And we have NOT - payloads dropped from this launch:

- 3x Myriota-3
- 1x Lemur-2

Launch kit:

[Salo]

https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1385629130738257920

DutchSpace @DutchSpace
So, Vega VV18 and hunting for the missing payload, Launch kit says, apart from Pléiades Néo 3, there are 5 auxiliary payloads on the Hexamodule, but only lists 4, I have BRAVO, LEMUR-2, Tyvak-182A (Eutelsat ELO alpha) and NorSat-3....so is the missing one maybe Myriota ? #VV18

[Bean Kenobi]

https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1385629130738257920
DutchSpace @DutchSpace

So, Vega VV18 and hunting for the missing payload, Launch kit says, apart from Pléiades Néo 3, there are 5 auxiliary payloads on the Hexamodule, but only lists 4, I have BRAVO, LEMUR-2, Tyvak-182A (Eutelsat ELO alpha) and NorSat-3....so is the missing one maybe Myriota ? #VV18

Or 2 Lemurs ?

[Jester]

its 2x lemur-2, no myriota

per the launchkit

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/lougrims/status/1385197029148794881

Spot the SPT-50

Interesting tip.
SPT-50(M?) visible in this picture on the right side of the Pleiades-NEO 3.
SPT-50(M) Xenon Hall-Effect-Thruster are manufactured by OKB Fakel in Kaliningrad.
https://fakel-russia.com/en/productions

[zubenelgenubi]

As of this posting, there are THREE orbital launches scheduled on April 29 UTC:
This launch at 0150 UTC;
The core Chinese space station module, Tianhe-1, at 0318 UTC;
60 Starlink v1.0 satellites at 0344 UTC.

[Lewis007]

VV18 launch sticker

[SMS]

As of this posting, there are THREE orbital launches scheduled on April 29 UTC:
This launch at 0150 UTC;
The core Chinese space station module, Tianhe-1, at 0318 UTC;
60 Starlink v1.0 satellites at 0344 UTC.

Hot 114 minutes !

[Scylla]

I notice on the Arianspace coverage, they have finally learned not to announce milestones from a script based on timeing alone. They are waiting for mission control confirmation before stating a milestone reached.

[Fmedici]

Liftoff:

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1387585470285156357

[northenarc]

 Separation of primary payload

[northenarc]

 Speakers celebrating success

[northenarc]

 2nd AVUM burn complete, now coasting towards rideshare deploy

[northenarc]

 View of dispenser and rideshares

[northenarc]

 Launch replays and end of (much improved) coverage. Rideshares still to separate. 

[Fmedici]

Separation confirmed for all the remaining payloads:

https://twitter.com/Arianespace/status/1387611219369074688

[northenarc]

 Final AVUM cutoff confirmed, end of mission.

https://twitter.com/Arianespace/status/1387612744862556162?s=20

[jacqmans]

April 28, 2021

18th Vega mission marks Arianespace’s second successful launch in 72 hours

- On April 28, Arianespace launched the 18th Vega mission (VV18), its second success in less than 72 hours and third of the year for the European launch services company.

– This launch orbited Pleiades Neo 3, the first satellite in the new very-high-resolution Earth observation constellation operated by Airbus, as well as five innovative small satellites using the advanced SSMS (Small Spacecraft Mission Service) system.

– Vega’s successful return to flight followed the recommendations issued by the Independent Inquiry Commission for Vega mission VV17, organized by Arianespace and ESA and implemented by Avio.

On Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 10:50 pm local time (01:50 UTC on Thursday, April 29), a Vega launch vehicle operated by Arianespace lifted off successfully from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana (South America). This mission marked Vega’s return to flight, and was also the second successful launch by Arianespace’s teams in less than 72 hours.

The mission’s primary purpose was orbiting Pleiades Neo 3, the first of four satellites in an advanced Earth observation constellation. Pleiades Neo 3 was wholly funded and manufactured by its operator, Airbus.

Arianespace’s 18th Vega mission also deployed several small satellites using its innovative rideshare service SSMS (Small Spacecraft Mission Service). These auxiliary payloads included an observation microsatellite for the Norwegian space agency, Norsat-3, and four cubesats, for the operators Eutelsat, NanoAvionics/Aurora Insight and Spire. The SSMS rideshare service, developed with the support of the European space industry, was first deployed by Arianespace in September 2020. Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), Arianespace’s SSMS service will soon be joined by the Multiple Launch Service (MLS), a similar offering that uses the Ariane 6 launch vehicle. With these two services, Arianespace can offer a wide range of affordable launch opportunities for small satellites and constellations.

“I would like to congratulate everybody involved at Arianespace, ESA and Avio for successfully returning Vega to flight,” said Stéphane Israël, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace. “I am especially proud of our teams who were able to carry out two launches, on two different continents, in less than 72 hours – kudos!”

The production of the Vega launcher and preparations for mission VV18 were handled by Avio, industrial prime contractor for the Vega launcher, under the direction of Arianespace and ESA. They followed all recommendations issued by the Independent Inquiry Commission set up after the failure of the 17th Vega mission (VV17).

VV18 is the third Arianespace mission of 2021, following two successful Soyuz launches, on March 25 and April 26, from the Vostochny launch base in Russia.

Vega is a new-generation light launcher, perfectly suited to both commercial and government payloads. Because of its high performance and versatility, Arianespace provides the best possible launch solution for small and medium spacecraft headed into a wide range of orbits (Sun-synchronous, ballistic, transfer to the Lagrange point L1, etc.), for Earth observation, science, education, defense and other applications. With Vega C, Arianespace will offer enhanced performance and greater payload volume for future customers at the same price as for launches by Vega.

https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/vega-vv18-launch-success/

[jacqmans]

VEGA'S FLIGHT VV18: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
29.04.21

With flight VV18, Vega successfully puts in Sun-Synchronous orbit the French satellite Pléiades Neo 3 along with several small satellites in ride-share.

Colleferro (Rome, Italy) 29th April 2021 – Today’s mission from Kourou’s spaceport in French Guiana marked a successful mission for Vega’s flight VV18. The European launcher, designed, developed and built by Avio, has perfectly placed in orbit the new generation French satellite Pléiades 3 Neo on behalf of Airbus Defence and Space along with 5 secondary payloads embarked on a modified version of the SSMS payload adapter successfully launched with the VV16 mission in September 2020. Among these, the Norwegian Norsat 3 and 4 cubesat for the operators Eutelsat, NanoAvionics/Aurora Insight and Spire. The spacecrafts are to serve various applications, including Earth observation, telecommunications, maritime traffic monitoring, and technology.

The mission marks the return to flight of the Vega after the anomaly that led to the premature end of the VV17 mission in November 2020. The European small lift rocket confirms its ability to transport groups of satellites into orbit together with a main payload. This capability, combined with the new SSMS payload adapter, successfully tested in flight VV16, increases the versatility of the Vega, to better compete in the microsatellite market and offer more launch opportunities to customers. The next flight, VV19, is expected by the summer.

“We are proud of the great teamwork that has led to this flight and I would like to thank all the team and our partners for the work done in these months to make Vega fly again successfully. Despite a very tough year, marked by Covid, Avio has shown resilience and tenacity as also shown by the 2020 financial results and the signature of long-term contracts for the future Vega C launcher. I would like also to thank our customers for their confidence in the rocket and the company" commented Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio.

https://www.avio.com/press-release/vegas-flight-vv18-mission-accomplished