24/7 Space News
ROCKET SCIENCE
Vega-C set for launch marking its return to service
illustration only
Vega-C set for launch marking its return to service
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Dec 05, 2024

ESA's Vega-C rocket has been fully assembled at Europe's Spaceport and is prepared for liftoff. The final component, including the Sentinel-1C satellite payload, was placed atop the 35-meter rocket on 29 November, completing the stack and signaling readiness for its mission.

Designed as ESA's smaller launcher, Vega-C specializes in delivering payloads to polar orbits, particularly Earth observation satellites like Sentinel-1C. Alongside Ariane 6, which debuted this summer, Vega-C ensures Europe maintains independent access to space, benefiting citizens and scientific endeavors.

This mission is a major milestone as Vega-C returns to flight following a two-year hiatus since its previous mission in 2022. It will also mark the 25th flight of the Vega rocket family, succeeding the final flight of its predecessor, Vega, earlier this year.

Stages built for efficiency

The Vega-C rocket consists of four stages, each built separately and sequentially stacked at the launch site.

- First stage (P120C): Installed on 14 October, the P120C is among the most powerful single-piece solid-fuel rocket motors globally. Shared with Ariane 6 boosters, this design enables cost-efficient production for both rockets.

- Second stage (Zefiro-40): This stage features a redesigned nozzle and underwent two test firings following the last Vega-C mission, ensuring readiness.

- Third stage (Zefiro-9): A legacy component, it is the only stage shared with the original Vega rocket.

- Fourth stage (AVUM+): This module connects to the Sentinel-1C satellite and guides it through its initial orbit, employing three liquid-fueled engine burns to achieve precise orbital placement. Once the satellite is deployed, AVUM+ performs a final burn to de-orbit itself, preventing space debris.

Countdown to launch

During launch, Vega-C's first three stages ignite and expend their fuel in succession, propelling the rocket into space within eight minutes. The AVUM+ stage will then complete the orbital maneuvers, releasing Sentinel-1C approximately one hour and fifty minutes after liftoff.

Even with the rocket fully assembled, final preparations continue, including system checks and testing, until the scheduled launch. A launch readiness review has already given the green light, ensuring all systems are set for Vega-C's highly anticipated return to flight.

The launch can be viewed live on ESA Web TV.

Related Links
Vega at ESA
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ROCKET SCIENCE
LandSpace achieves milestone with successful ZQ 2E-Y1 rocket launch
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 03, 2024
LandSpace, a leading private aerospace company headquartered in Beijing, successfully launched the modified ZQ 2E-Y1 rocket on Wednesday, deploying two experimental satellites into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China. The ZQ 2E-Y1, the first in the ZQ 2E series, lifted off at 10 a.m., marking a significant step for methane-powered rockets. According to LandSpace, ZQ 2 is the world's first methane-fueled rocket model to achieve Earth orbit, with the series having flown ... read more

ROCKET SCIENCE
Trump names billionaire private astronaut as next NASA chief

India's Gaganyatris complete initial astronaut training for ISRO-NASA mission to ISS

ISS crew members prepare space botany study and pack Dragon capsule for return

McGill Professor leads AXIS mission in final phase of NASA selection process

ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab prepares to launch Synspective EO satellite

India launches European 'artifical eclipse' satellites

Long March 3B reaches 100th launch milestone

SpaceX reaches milestone with 300th successful booster landing

ROCKET SCIENCE
Liquid on Mars was not necessarily all water

Purdue scientist expecting new world to reveal itself to Mars rover

China's Tianwen-1 probe reveals new insights into Martian internal gravity waves

Mars Ocean Analogs Completes Winter Solstice Voyage and Plans Future Expeditions

ROCKET SCIENCE
Long March 12 set for inaugural launch from Hainan space center

China inflatable space capsule aces orbital test

Tianzhou 7 completes cargo Mission, Tianzhou 8 docks with Tiangong

Zebrafish thrive in space experiment on China's space station

ROCKET SCIENCE
China launches third batch of 18 communication satellites

FibreCoat raises 20m euro to advance coated fiber technology in space and defense sectors

SSTL partners with LatConnect 60 for SWIR payload development

AST SpaceMobile teams with Cadence to drive space-based cellular broadband

ROCKET SCIENCE
Space Machines expands global partnerships with UK collaboration to address space debris

Sierra Space expands partnerships to advance microgravity manufacturing

A new way to create realistic 3D shapes using generative AI

Scientists explore sustainable use of fly ash for water treatment

ROCKET SCIENCE
Towards independent robotic exploration of ocean worlds

A caving expedition highlights the complexities of field research

New planet in Kepler-51 system unveiled with JWST observations

Unveiling a hydrogen-controlled nano-switch in electron transport proteins

ROCKET SCIENCE
Magnetic tornado is stirring up the haze at Jupiter's poles

Uranus moons could hold clues to hidden oceans for future space missions

A clue to what lies beneath the bland surfaces of Uranus and Neptune

Europa Clipper deploys instruments on journey to icy moon of Jupiter

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.