On September 5, after 21 launches throughout its years in service, the last Vega rocket successfully lifted off from the ELA-1 pad at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
LIFTOFF of #Sentinel2 C on the last Vega rocket from @EuropeSpacePort in Kourou, French Guiana on 5 September 2024! pic.twitter.com/QzAZPkqBTr
— European Space Agency (@esa) September 5, 2024
The European rocket ignited the P80 solid rocket first stage at 1.50 a.m UTC, launching the new Sentinel-2C Satellite toward the scheduled Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of around 780 km, with deployment occurring at T+57 min 32s.
This flight (VV24), carrying the newest Sentinel satellite to space, plays a significant role in ensuring the continuity of the Sentinel-2 mission, a fundamental part of the Copernicus program, the world’s most advanced Earth observation system.
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The payload: Sentinel-2C satellite
As mentioned above, the payload of today’s launch was the new Sentinel-2C satellite. This new spacecraft, operated by expert teams at ESA’s ESOC mission control center in Darmstadt, Germany, was designed and built by a consortium of around 60 companies led by Airbus Defence and Space.
It aims to replace the Sentinel-2A satellite, continuing its role as a part of the Sentinel-2 mission. However, the constellation’s newest satellite has many technical upgrades over its predecessor already in orbit, including an optimized Multispectral Imager (MSI) for enhanced image quality and improved onboard electronics for faster, more efficient data processing.
With an extended lifespan until 2031 and advanced calibration systems, the Sentinel-2C satellite will enhance its support for the Copernicus Programme. It will improve the monitoring of water quality, natural disasters, methane emissions, and play a key role in agriculture by predicting yields and aiding precision farming with data on plant growth.
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Vega rocket: 22nd and final launch
Today’s launch has marked an important transition for the Vega program since it has been the final launch of the Vega rocket, which will be replaced by the re-entering in service of its more powerful variant Vega-C.
Vega rocket, whose name is an acronym for Vector European Generation Advanced, is capable of carrying up to 2,500 kg of payload to polar and low Earth orbits.
Its development started in 1994 under the leadership of ESA, with Italy (ASI) as the first contributor, and Avio Spa (Colleferro, Italy) as a prime contractor delivering a ready-to-lift-off launcher to Arianespace. ArianeGroup’s subsidiary is the commercial operator of the vehicle.
The solid rocket features four stages, with the first stage powered by the P80, the world’s largest single-piece solid rocket motor. The second and third stages are powered by the Zefiro 23 and Zefiro 9 motors, respectively, both using solid propellants and named after their initial design weights. Meanwhile, the fourth stage, AVUM, uses liquid propellant for precise orbital insertion.
After its inaugural launch in 2012, the rocket completed 22 missions throughout its operational years. However, its history was marred by two failures during the VV15 and VV17 flights, which temporarily halted operations between 2019 and 2020. Despite these setbacks, Vega played a vital role in maintaining Europe’s independent access to space, offering a reliable platform for launching small to medium-sized satellites.
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Waiting for Vega C’s return
Vega-C rocket, replacing its predecessor, will be fundamental to ensure the continuity of the Vega program and to increase the capabilities of this rocket’s family.
In fact, this new version of the European rocket features a more powerful first stage, the P120C, which is derived from the P80 and provides greater thrust and efficiency. The second and third stages, Zefiro 40 and Zefiro 9, continue using solid propellant, while the AVUM+ fourth stage is upgraded with more propellant capacity.
Recently, Avio, the prime contractor for Vega-C, successfully conducted a critical static-fire test of the Zefiro 40-second stage at the Salto di Quirra test facility in Sardinia. This test featured a completely redesigned engine nozzle, a necessary modification following a series of failures, including the December 2022 mission, which grounded the new rocket for over a year. This failure of the Zefiro 40 during the VV-22 mission led to the loss of two Airbus Pléiades Neo imaging satellites.
A subsequent failure during a static-fire test in June 2023 further delayed the rocket’s return to flight.
The recent successful test is a fundamental step toward qualifying the Zefiro 40 for flight, with another static-fire test scheduled for October. If this second test also proves successful, Vega-C is expected to return to flight by the end of the year, with its first mission set to carry ESA’s Sentinel-1C Earth observation satellite. This service return is essential for maintaining Europe’s independent access to space, especially in light of the retirement of the original Vega rocket.
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