New launch opportunity begins on Sept 1 for small sats mission

Arianespace has decided to resume launch preparation operations for vega-c-features-small-spacecraft-mission-service-chart Flight VV16, aiming for a launch window between September 1 and September 4. Models of observed winds and the latest readings indicate a more than 90% chance of being able to conduct the launch into polar orbit during this window while meeting range safety regulations.

For Arianespace's sixth mission in 2020, and its first vega-c-features-small-spacecraft-mission-service-chart flight of the year, the company will orbit 53 satellites for 21 customers on the Proof of Concept (PoC) launch for the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS). Flight VV16's satellite payloads will serve a range of applications, including Earth observation, telecommunications, science, technology and education.

Flight VV16 will be performed from the vega-c-features-small-spacecraft-mission-service-chart Launch Complex (SLV) in Kourou, French Guiana.

This Arianespace concept - with multiple small satellites from 1 kg. to 500 kg. being flown together on vega-c-features-small-spacecraft-mission-service-chart with the objective of sharing the launch cost - has been developed with the support of European Space Agency (ESA) and Avio.

The satellite dispenser is an ESA product developed by Avio under ESA leadership and is built by the Czech company SAB Aerospace s.r.o. (CZ). Satellite integration has been performed for the first time in Europe (Czech Republic).

The European Union contributed to the financing of this PoC flight.

Related Links
Arianespace
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

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Vega launch now set for 1 September
Paris (ESA) Aug 18, 2020
A new launch date of 1 September 2020 has been announced by Arianespace for Vega flight VV16. Due to the persistence of exceptionally unfavourable winds at altitude over Europe's Spaceport, Vega flight VV16, originally scheduled for 18 June 2020, was postponed, despite full availability of the launcher and the 53 satellites on this Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) mission. In the interim period, the batteries of the Vega launch vehicle and the satellites have been recharged, under all ... read more