Vega Launcher To Orbit Smaller Payloads In Arianespace Service

ROCKET SCIENCE

The four-stage launcher is tailored to carry small scientific spacecraft and other lighter-weight payloads. A growing number of such satellites are under development or planned worldwide, with Europe expecting to produce 13 such satellites for launch between 2007 and 2010.

Paris - Mar10, 2003
Arianespace's commercial launcher family is ready to expand with the addition of Vega -- a new vehicle scheduled to enter operation in mid 2006 for missions with small- to medium-sized satellite payloads.

The Vega program passed a major milestone February 25, when contracts for the launcher's development and the qualification of its P80 first-stage rocket motor were signed in Colleferro, Italy.

Vega's target payload lift capability is 1,500 kg. on missions to a 700-km. circular orbit.

Arianespace will operate Vega from the Spaceport in French Guiana, with liftoff of the 30-meter-tall vehicle performed from the ELA-1 complex that originally was used for the Ariane 1 launcher. The Vega launch control room already exists, and the former Ariane 1 launch pad is being retrofitted for its new operational life.

"Vega is very important for us," explained Louis Laurent, Arianespace's Vice President - Launch Vehicle Development, at the February 25 contract signing in Colleferro. "Ten years ago, it was possible for Arianespace to address the market's needs with one rocket. Today, this is no longer the case, and we must provide a range of vehicles that are able to meet increasingly varied missions."

Laurent said Vega will have an essential role within the family of European launchers, joining Ariane (which is optimized for large satellites on missions to geostationary transfer orbit, and low Earth flights with very heavy payloads), and Soyuz (tailored for medium payloads to low Earth orbit and certain small GTO spacecraft). He added that Arianespace earlier this year created a team fully dedicated to Vega activity.

Vega is being developed within a European program organized by the European Space Agency. Italy is the lead nation, with the launcher's prime contractor role held by ELV S.p.A., a joint company of FiatAvio and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).

The Vega's first stage will be powered by the P80 advanced solid propellant motor developed and qualified by FiatAvio with the French CNES space agency. The stage is characterized by a novel filament-wound casing structure, paving the way to future applications on a new generation of boosters for Ariane 5.

Vega's second and third stages also use solid propellant motors, which are topped off by the bi-propellant AVUM (attitude and vernier upper module) liquid upper stage. Liftoff mass of Vega will be 130 metric tons.

In addition to the Vega program role of Italy and France, other participating European countries are Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The program is fully funded.

Vega's first qualification flight in 2006 is expected to be followed by launches at a rate of 3-4 missions per year.

ROCKET SCIENCE

ESA Signs Up For Demonstration Of Vega Small Launcher

Paris - Feb 26, 2003
Today ESA signed a contract with the ELV company for completion of the development phase of the Vega European small launcher programme, and CNES signed, on behalf of ESA, a contract with FiatAvio for development of the P80 advanced solid propulsion stage and demonstrator.

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