Vega (rocket)
Vega (Italian Vettore Europeo di Generazione Avanzata " advanced generation of a European launcher " ) is a European four-stage launcher for small satellites, which was developed for the European Space Agency ( ESA) since 1998 and has completed its first flight on February 13, 2012 successfully. It is the smallest European launcher and aim to produce up to 2.5 tonnes into low-Earth orbit.
Development and sales
Vega added as a lightweight launcher, its moderate Russian Soyuz and the heavy Ariane 5, which both also launch in Kourou. Due to their simple design as a solid rocket is hoped that an increased reliability and a drastic reduction in launch costs to less than 20 million euros. At Vega seven nations: Italy (65% ), France ( 12.43% ), Belgium ( 5.63% ), Spain ( 5%), the Netherlands ( NIVR, 3.5% ), Switzerland ( EKWF, 1.34 % ) and Sweden ( 0.8%). Germany was not involved in the development, as the DLR saw no market for a new vehicle and referred to the available Russian carrier. After their starting prices had risen sharply, was announced before the maiden flight, to participate in its further development. I II studies were conducted in the last few years the DLR Institute SART carried out under the name VENUS.
Vega is marketed by Arianespace. Because the previously provided fourth stage of Russian and Ukrainian producers is delivered, the DLR has conducted a study for a possible new fourth stage from Germany, where at EADS Astrium in order. The ESA development program VERTA ( Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment ) promotes the first five flights of Vega. Originally included the launch of ADM -Aeolus this.
The development of the missile was launched from the Italian Space Agency ASI and the Italian space industry as a national project in 1998 with the help of the then ESA Director General Antonio Rodotà an ESA project. A prototype of the P80 engine has been successfully tested in Kourou on 4 December 2007, having supplied over 111 seconds a thrust of 190 tons. On 28 April 2009 saw the crowning of the second test Vega rocket motor of the third Vegastufe Italian Salto di Quirra.
The first launch of the missile took place on 13 February 2012. The payload consisted of the 390 kg heavy LARES satellite and eight microsatellites (12.5 kg, and 7 times about 1 kg).
Technology
The total height of the rocket is 30 meters with a maximum of three feet in diameter, a launch mass of 137 tons and a take-off thrust of 2700 kN. The high thrust -to -weight ratio causes in comparison to other carriers remarkably high acceleration.
The three lower rocket stages are operated with solid fuel, the drive was further developed over the solid boosters of Ariane 5. Thus was saved by the construction of wound fiber composite materials greatly mass. The stages operate with a higher combustion chamber pressure and the nozzles are electromechanically moved instead of hydraulic. The won this technological findings were the reason why France still involved in the launcher after initial rejection of the Vega itself. It was once planned to transmit the first-stage technology Ariane -5- booster in order to increase the payload capacity and reduce manufacturing costs.
The fourth stage is equipped with an engine, for liquid propellants. This engine named VG 143 is based on the Ukrainian RD 869, which was developed for the R -36M. In 2008, the first copy to Avio was delivered. There can be multiple fire and placed the payload to the intended orbit. The technology of the fairing that is discarded after leaving the denser layers of the atmosphere is also based on the Ariane 5
Starts
As of May 7, 2013
Planned start
As of February 21, 2014
Comments
¹ Gross Weight = ( Satellite Adapter, enclosure etc. ) Small and in brackets the weight of the satellite.
² Not necessarily the target orbit of the payload - but the path on which the payload from the upper stage to be exposed (te).
³ The payloads are listed as they are one above the other or side by side housed (in rare cases ) in the payload fairing / were. First, the highest payload, then the second highest, etc ....
All Vega rocket lift off from the launch site ELV ( Ensemble de Lancement Vega ) of the European spaceport in French Guiana. The flight numbers are prefixed with VV for vol Vega (French for "Vega- flight " ), analogous to VA for the Ariane and VS for the Soyuz rocket.