Vega - Europe's Newest Rocket

Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

Hobbes said:
Interesting choice to have solid propellants for the first three stages.
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It was supposed to provide cost savings in both manufacture and operation.

Another reason given has been:

The rocket is centred on an Italian design that has raised eyebrows for its complexity.

Rocket makers usually try to reduce the number of stages as far as possible to avoid the risk of failure if a stage does not separate or if a motor refuses to ignite.

But Vega uses four stages to propel a small payload into low orbit. The reason: the rocket uses solid fuel, an energy source that cannot be turned on and off as easily as liquid propellant, so having additional stages offers flexibility in swiftly boosting or slowing a flight.

Another innovation, said Carine Leveau of France's National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), is a first stage whose body is made of light-but-tough carbon fibre, a precious gain in the quest for low-cost reliability.

Spacedaily.com
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Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

the launch was very abnormally for European prototype rocket, a full success ! ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0IZ6d4wTCg
 
Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

Michel Van said:
the launch was very abnormally for European prototype rocket, a full success !
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That's great to hear.

A few years ago I did a quick survey of new launch vehicles. Turns out that the failure rate for brand new vehicles is something like 50% for the first launch, 25% for the second launch. There is some difficulty in deciding what is a "new" vehicle, but the numbers are fairly consistent for general conclusions.
 
Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

Pity the launch site was covered by clouds, very little to see after the first 30s.

The commentary in the video refers to other videos which sound interesting but which I can't find offhand. Anyone know where these might be found?
 
Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

Some Foto at flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency/sets/72157629144644601/show/
 
Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

I think they want to take advantage of the Ariane solids infrastructure.

Maybe after a few Vega flights the Ariane 5 can go to upgraded carbon fibre solids too,
shedding a lot of weight. Maybe the main stage or some upper stages could be stretched at the same time?

Vega has taken very long to mature.

IIRC they're going to use for the GPS me-too Galileo satnav system.
 
Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

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IMAGE CREDIT: BBC News​

 
Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

Matej said:
That was the fastest start that I ever saw for a civil space rocket.
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Take a look at Taurus launch footage. It's a converted Peacekeeper ICBM, so it's designed to move fast.
 
Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

That was the fastest start that I ever saw for a civil space rocket.
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Advantage of a solid fuel motor.
 
Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

Grey Havoc said:
Ministers to chart Ariane rocket's future (BBC News)
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A new Ariane 6 concept has been proposed, and ministers must sanction the way ahead and fund it.

They are being asked to commit 3.8 billion euros (£3bn; $4.7bn), which will cover not only the A6’s development but also an upgrade to Esa’s small Italian-built Vega rocket.
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Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

not only upgrade for Vega


the Ariane 6 will use new Solid booster, build with same technology like Vega rocket first stage
 
Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

http://spacenews.com/vega-to-launch-skybox-satellites/
 
Re: Europe's Newest Rocket

Fallout from no more rides on Dnepr? Though considering the love between Google(Skybox) and SpaceX, this may have been a temporary payload shift for Dnepr orphaned payloads and not a long term launch strategy as a customer. Though a ride on a solid is in theory rougher than a liquid, all things considered, so how much rework is going to be needed for Vega?
 
https://spacenews.com/arianespace-vega-launches-italian-imaging-satellite/
 
July 11, 2019

Flight VV15: Mission failure

Approximately two minutes after the Vega launcher’s liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana, a launcher anomaly occurred shortly after ignition of the Zefiro 23 second stage – leading to the premature end of the mission.

Data analyses are in progress to clarify the reasons for this failure.

An independent inquiry commission will be set up in the coming hours.

Flight VV15: Mission failure - Arianespace

Approximately two minutes after the Vega launcher’s liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana, a launcher anomaly occurred shortly after ignition of the Zefiro 23 second stage – leading to the premature end of the mission.
www.arianespace.com www.arianespace.com
 
what Scott Manley Video show on Vega launch
Seems that Second stage not ignited
 
Indeed a very strange and unusual failure for a solid rocket booster.
As Italian I mourn the loss....
 
Vega Flight VV15: Findings of the Independent Inquiry Commission’s investigations

The Independent Inquiry Commission, tasked with analyzing the failure of Vega Flight VV15, submitted its findings on Wednesday, September 4, 2019.

Co-chaired by the Inspector General of the European Space Agency (ESA); and the Senior Vice President, Technical and Quality of Arianespace; the Commission was appointed on Thursday, July 11, 2019. According to its assigned task, after having analyzed the flight data, the Commission identified possible causes for the anomaly and drew up recommendations for Vega to resume launches under the requisite conditions of safety, security and reliability.

The Commission identified the anomaly’s most likely cause as a thermo-structural failure in the forward dome area of the Z23 motor. Based on this, the Commission has proposed:

An exhaustive verification plan of its findings,

A set of corrective actions on all subsystems, processes and equipment concerned.

After these actions are completed, the resumption of Vega launches is planned by the first quarter of 2020, enabling a return to the string of 14 successful launches already recorded by Vega.

Flight data analysis

The Vega launcher lifted off as scheduled on July 10, 2019 at 10:53 p.m. (local time in French Guiana). At precisely 130s 850ms after liftoff – and shortly after ignition of the second stage (Zefiro 23) –an anomaly occurred on the launcher, leading to the premature end of the mission.

The work of the Independent Inquiry Commission is based on the following:

A complete analysis of measurements recorded during Flight VV15.

The study of documents concerning Vega’s production, quality and technical history, including the 14 successful Vega launches to date.

Investigations at different production and operational sites involving the staff from the prime contractor, Avio.

These investigations confirm that all preparation and countdown operations for the VV15 launch, as well as the flight conditions until after the ignition of the Zefiro 23 second stage (Z23) proceeded normally. In particular:

The operation of the P80 first stage (engine ignition, atmospheric phase, P80 propulsion and separation) was nominal; all parameters were as expected and in line with those from preceding flights.

The ignition and powered phase of the Z23 stage was nominal during the first 14s 25ms and all parameters were as expected and in line with those for preceding flights.

The anomaly occurred at 130s 850ms, based on the following observations:

At 130s 850ms, a sudden and violent event occurred on the Z23 motor.

This event led to a breakup of the launcher in two main parts: the Z23; and the assembly composed of the fairing, satellite, flight adapter, AVUM and the Zefiro 9 stage (Z9).

After this event, the key telemetry measurements and observations were as follows:

At 135s: the upper assembly trajectory started to deviate from the nominal one.

At 213s 660ms: in accordance with the safety procedures in force at the Guiana Space Center, a neutralization command was sent by range safety authorities, and was confirmed as executed by analysis of telemetry data.

At 314s 25ms: telemetry data and signals from the launcher were no longer received by ground radar and telemetry stations.

The mission came to a premature end, without causing any damage to people or property.

Causes of the anomaly and work plan

Based on these observations, and additional analyses concerning the few milliseconds around the anomaly, the Commission has performed a systematic and exhaustive analysis of the possible causes. The Commission identified as the most likely cause of the anomaly a thermo-structural failure in the forward dome area of the Z23 motor. Other possible causes such as inadvertent activation of the Z23 neutralization system have been found unlikely.

Furthermore, after specific investigations, the Independent Inquiry Commission did not find any evidence of a malicious act.

The Commission has proposed:

An exhaustive verification plan of its findings based on analyses and tests,

A set of corrective actions on all subsystems, processes and equipment concerned.

This action plan shall enable a resumption of Vega launches under all requisite conditions of reliability by the first quarter of 2020. A key point will validate the effective implementation of Independent Inquiry Commission recommendations prior to flight resumption and submit its final conclusions to ESA and Arianespace.

Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA Director of Space Transportation, said: “In the past weeks, members of the inquiry commission have done a remarkable job, with the support of the prime contractor Avio. I want to encourage all the teams to implement corrective measures for the reliable return to flight of Vega, securing Europe’s full autonomy of access to space.”

Stéphane Israël, Arianespace CEO added: “I would like to thank the co-chairs of the Independent Inquiry Commission, as well as all members. Their work on identifying the causes of the Flight VV15 anomaly, and the well-defined actions to be carried out from now until the end of the year, will pave the way for a resumption of Vega launches as from the first quarter of 2020, under the requisite conditions of reliability. Along with our industrial partner Avio, we will be doing everything in our power to reconnect with the 14 successful launches already recorded by our light launch vehicle.”
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Vega Flight VV15: Findings of the Independent Inquiry Commission’s investigations - Arianespace

The Independent Inquiry Commission, tasked with analyzing the failure of Vega Flight VV15, submitted its findings on Wednesday, September 4, 2019.
www.arianespace.com www.arianespace.com
 
In an interview, Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Vega-manufacturer Avio, said that while the commission was not able to pinpoint the precise cause of the failure, careful analysis points to “thermo-structural failure” of the Zefiro-23’s forward dome area.
“It’s very confined in scope, the area it occured,” Ranzo told SpaceNews. “We know where to act with corrective measures to reduce significantly the risk that this could ever happen again.”
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spacenews.com

Second stage blamed as Vega targets early 2020 return to flight

Investigators think Vega’s failure originated in the forward dome area of the Zefiro-23, the second of three solid-fueled stages the rocket expends to deliver satellites to orbit.
spacenews.com spacenews.com
 
Good news that Vega is to return to flight after the failure, lets hope that there are no more failures again and that the next launch is a success.
 
www.esa.int

Rideshare service for light satellites to launch on Vega

Europe’s next Vega launch will premiere a new dispenser called the Small Spacecraft Mission Service, or SSMS. It will transport more than 50 satellites at once into orbit on the first rideshare mission dedicated to light satellites. Liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana is set for...
www.esa.int
 
Flyaway said:
www.esa.int

Rideshare service for light satellites to launch on Vega

Europe’s next Vega launch will premiere a new dispenser called the Small Spacecraft Mission Service, or SSMS. It will transport more than 50 satellites at once into orbit on the first rideshare mission dedicated to light satellites. Liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana is set for...
www.esa.int
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Here’s hoping that the launch goes to plan and is successful.
 
I remember hearing about this, but I thought it had been delayed.
 
Cross posting this article as covers Vega-C as well as Ariane 6.

www.esa.int

ESA lays out roadmap to Vega-C and Ariane 6 flights

Vega-C and Ariane 6 are being developed by ESA to assure Europe’s independent access to space. The maiden flight for Vega-C is planned to take place in June 2021, and that for Ariane 6 in the second quarter of 2022.
www.esa.int
 
TomcatViP said:
Vega deemed as a mission failure:
www.space.com

European Vega rocket suffers major launch failure, satellites for Spain and France lost

'We can now confirm the mission is lost."
www.space.com www.space.com
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Here’s the official press release:

Arianespace – Flight Vega VV17 – SEOSAT-Ingenio / TARANIS: Mission failure - Arianespace

8 minutes after liftoff of Vega mission VV17, following the first ignition of the engine of the Avum upper stage, a deviation of trajectory was identified, entailing the loss of the mission.
www.arianespace.com www.arianespace.com
 
Apparently this is the ninth failure of the year which represents a spike in failures. Offset against this was the fact that a number of these involved new launchers.
 

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