Vega VV19 - Pléiades Neo 4 & rideshares - 17 August 2021 (01:47 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Launch thread for VV19

Cross-posts:

Arianespace offers new shared smallsat payload opportunities on its Vega launcher; the next mission already is fully booked, dated October 13
[see attached .png file]

***

As for the primary payload: What satellite or satellites on the Vega manifest are meant for a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), 10:30 am local time of descending node (LTDN), altitude 550-610 km?
Salo posits a CERES.

Obviously, only the first two "CERES" satellites are scheduled to launch in 2021. Together or not, it doesn't say.
Source:
http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/15/comptes-rendus/cion_def/l15cion_def1920067_compte-rendu#
Date: July 8, 2020
Google translate

<snip> In 2021, the first two satellites of the CERES constellation (space-based electromagnetic intelligence and listening capability) will be launched. <snip>

(That was in July, now maybe the schedule has, due to the delays at Vega and Soyuz, changed again.)

***

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

2021
January - CERES 1, ELO, Lemur-2y (xTBD), Myriota 1, Myriota 2, Myriota 3, NORSAT 3, NanoAvionics sat + multiple sats - Vega (VV18) - Kourou ZLV (or Q1)
Early - Galileo-FOC FM23, Galileo-FOC FM24 - Soyuz ST-B/Fregat-MT (VS26?) - Kourou ELS
January February - Star One D2, Eutelsat Quantum - Ariane 5 ECA (VA254) - Kourou ELA-3
Q2 - CERES 1, CERES 2, CERES 3 + multiple sats - Vega (VV19) - Kourou ZLV
Midyear - LARES 2 - Vega C (inaugural flight) (VV19)  - Kourou ZLV
Q4 - SSMS flight 2 - Vega C - Kourou ZLV

Changes on September 21st
Changes on October 12th
Changes on October 13th
zubenelgenubi

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

Re: VV18 and VV19:

https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/arianespace-offers-new-shared-smallsat-payload-opportunities-on-its-vega-launcher-the-next-mission-already-is-fully-booked/
[attached image]

And:

CERES orbit:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERES_(satellite)

Orbite Orbite    Basse
Périapside    250 km
Apoapside    800 km

Pleiades Neo orbit:
https://www.intelligence-airbusds.com/en/8671-pleiades-neo-trusted-intelligence

Orbit: Sun-synchronous, 10:30 a.m.,
Descending node, 620 km altitude

The orbits listed appear to better match Pleiades Neo rather than CERES.

And the launch timing appears to match Pleiades Neo better:

08/10/2020 The first two Pléiades Neo satellites are now qualified and ready and will soon be heading to the launch pad in French Guyana. Their launch is now scheduled for very early 2021!

https://www.intelligence-airbusds.com/en/9462-pleiades-neo-ready-for-launch

Overview and orbit: https://www.intelligence-airbusds.com/en/8671-pleiades-neo-trusted-intelligence

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

ESA lays out roadmap to Vega-C and Ariane 6 flights, dated October 29

Vega C
<snip>
Two Vega flights, VV17 and VV18, are planned before Vega-C. Activities for the modification of the mobile gantry for Vega-C, such as modifications of the fluids networks as well as connection and installation of the new control bench for Vega-C, will have to start after VV18 now planned early February. 

Vega-C maiden flight is planned for June 2021.

Apparently:
Vega      VV17     November 14, 2020        SEOSat/Ingenio and TARANIS
Vega      VV18     early February 2021        Pléiades Neo 1 ?
Vega-C   VV19?   maiden flight June 2021  LARES 2
Vega      VV20?   2021                              Pléiades Neo 2 ?

[Steven Pietrobon]

NET April 2021. SSMS rideshares include

PRETTY
RadCube
SUNSTORM
uHETSat

https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/DGPressConf2021JosefAschbacher.pdf

[Skyrocket]

NET April 2021. SSMS rideshares include

PRETTY
RadCube
SUNSTORM
uHETSat

https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/DGPressConf2021JosefAschbacher.pdf

µHETsat was originally booked on a Virgin Orbit LauncherOne flight.

[Closer to Space]

VV19 was supposed to be the launch of Pléiades-Néo 2. I suppose that these payloads will be rideshared with it, as there may be some on VV-18 too.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

I got some information about the flights for this year:

VV18 - Officially late March (most likely mid-April)
<snip>
VV19 - late June or early July, likely Vega C first flight
<snip>
VV20 - August
<snip>

From CtS' information, it appears that Vega return-to-flight is most important (VV18), followed by establishing Vega C capability (VV19), followed by having the first two Pléiades Neo satellites on-orbit (VV18 and 20).

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-posts; this launch should be VV19, as the first Vega-C launch is delayed to early 2022:

Vega-C rocket delayed to early 2022 as current Vega customers, especially one, are given priority

Posted by Peter B. de Selding | Mar 19, 2021 | Limited, Satellite Operators

PARIS — Europe’s Vega-C rocket’s inaugural flight has slipped to early 2022 to increase the likelihood that high-profile customers awaiting launch on the current Vega are delivered to orbit this year.

First among equals in this customer lineup is the French Defense Ministry, whose three Ceres signals-intelligence satellites are scheduled for launch on a Vega late this year. The satellites will fly in formation in low Earth orbit.

https://www.spaceintelreport.com/vega-c-rocket-delayed-to-early-2022-as-current-vega-customers-especially-one-are-given-priority/

The Vega-C lost the fight. The Vega customers Airbus and DGA have prevailed.
So most likely 2021 Vega VV18 Pleiades NEO 1, Vega VV19 Pleiades NEO 2, Vega VV20 CERES and then 2022 the Vega-C.

The same from Avio, no Vega-C in 2021.

p. 24
http://avio-data.teleborsa.it/2021%2f2020-FY-Results-v_DEF_20210319_060013.pdf

[Bean Kenobi]

https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2021/03/pliades-neo-satellites-arrive-in-kourou-for-launch.html

This press release says Pleiades Neo-4 will be on this launch, not Neo-2.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post; my bolds:

Pléiades Neo satellites arrive in Kourou for launch

Toulouse, 24 March 2021 – The first two Airbus-built Pléiades Neo imaging satellites have arrived at Cayenne airport, French Guiana and are now en route to the European Space Centre in Kourou.

Scheduled to launch in April 2021 on a Vega launcher, Pléiades Neo 3, the first of the new generation of very high-resolution satellites will join the existing Airbus fleet of optical and radar satellites, with increased resolution, revisit and coverage. It will be closely followed by its twin, Pléiades Neo 4, also scheduled for launch on a Vega rocket a few weeks later.

[GWR64]

https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2021/03/pliades-neo-satellites-arrive-in-kourou-for-launch.html

This press release says Pleiades Neo-4 will be on this launch, not Neo-2.

The picture shows V2020 FM2. That is then probably Pleiades Neo 4. Because Airbus counts the two old Pleiades satellites as 1 + 2 and continues counting 3,4,5,6 for the Neo satellites. I suspect.

[zubenelgenubi]

Seeking correction or clarification:
Does it (still) take around 6 weeks minimum to turn around from Vega launch to Vega launch?

April 20 + 42 days = June 1

April 27 + 42 days = June 8

[GWR64]

The campaign for the Vega VV17 was 43 days long.
How many days after the launch the next campaign can be started, I don't know.
And don't forget the Ariane 5 VA254 for Embratel (now Claro Brasil) and Eutelsat. 2 very good Arianespace customers.

[GWR64]

Something about RadCube.
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Intern_develops_software_for_ESA_space_experiment

edit:

Meadbh’s project involves RadCube, the latest of ESA’s Technology CubeSats, which is due to fly on a Vega launcher this July.

But that was on March 18th.  It may have changed again.

[zubenelgenubi]

Belated schedule update:

https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ [March 31 update]

June • Vega • Pléiades Neo 4
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana

[Steven Pietrobon]

It was mentioned at 0:17:30 of the VV18 broadcast that the next Pléiades-Neo is launching in July.

[zubenelgenubi]

Assuming the Kourou launch schedule does not undergo further significant change, it appears that the VV19 launch will precede that of VA254 by a minimum of approximately two weeks (reset time between dissimilar launches).

https://www.dlr.de/rd/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-4926/8178_read-5116/

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

2021
July 27 NET early NET 16 - Star One D2, Eutelsat Quantum - Ariane 5 ECA+ (VA254) - Kourou ELA-3

August July - Pleiades Neo 4, PRETTY, RadCube, SUNSTORM, µHETsat + multiple sats - Vega (VV19) - Kourou ZLV
(minimum of approximately 2 weeks before VA254)
(minimum of approximately 2 weeks after VA254)

Changes on May 16th
Changes on May 26th
Changes on May 28th
Changes on June 11th
zubenelgenubi

[GWR64]

https://www.dlr.de/rd/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-4926/8178_read-47362/

Der nächste Flug einer Sojus ist zum folgenden Termin geplant:

Nr.    Version    Flug      Startdatum          Nutzlast(en)                    Bemerkung

19     Vega       VV19   August (tbc)    Pleiades Neo 4 · diverse Satelliten

Angaben ohne Gewähr, Änderungen jederzeit möglich. Aktualisiert: 11. Juni 2021

Delayed to August?
Arianespace can't launch another Vega between April 29 (Vega VV18) and July 27 (Ariane VA254)? 

[GWR64]

August 10, 01:50 UTC  (NET?)
Source countdown clock https://www.intelligence-airbusds.com/imagery/constellation/pleiades-neo/

[GWR64]

Some pictures of the Vega VV19.
Thanks @Dutchspace.
https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1408717653183766529
https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1410157073942433795
https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1410346510013849604
https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1411057765515247622

There are other sources as well.
many pictures: https://www.facebook.com/pg/association.anciens.du.csg/photos/?ref=page_internal

Only from Arianespace there are no pictures.
Was the launch pad empty for more than a month after VV18? That would explain why VV19 cannot start before VA254. I no longer believe that VV20 will be ready in time for October. The entire schedule at the end of the year would then be mixed up.