ESA targets Wednesday evening for swan tune launch of its Vega rocket – Spaceflight Now

Replace 7:05 a.m. EDT: Arianespace introduced that the mission is scrubbed for a Tuesday evening launch try attributable to “electrical points” and is working in direction of a chance on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

The European Area Company (ESA) is making ready to finish its transition to its Vega-C rocket with the ultimate launch of its first-generation Vega rocket. The mission, dubbed VV24, will carry an Earth-imaging satellite tv for pc to a sun-synchronous orbit.

Liftoff of the twenty second and ultimate Vega rocket is ready for Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 10:50 p.m. GFT (9:50 p.m. EDT, 0150 UTC) from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Through the ultimate hours earlier than the mission was set to launch, Arianespace posted to social media that the mission was scrubbed for its first launch try on Tuesday.

“As a consequence of electrical points on the bottom hyperlinks #VV24 launch chronology was interrupted,” Arianespace wrote on X, previously Twitter. “Checks are being carried out to substantiate a brand new launch try tomorrow, Sept. 4, at 10:50 p.m. native time in Kourou. The launcher and its passenger, Sentinel-2C, are in steady and secure circumstances.”

The mission was initially cleared to proceed by way of a launch readiness evaluate that wrapped up on Sept. 2.

The Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite tv for pc will likely be deployed from the launcher about 57 minutes and 20 seconds after liftoff. Officers count on to accumulate sign from the spacecraft inside 12 minutes of separation.

“We’re actually delighted to begin the Vega yr with the European Union’s flagship program, Copernicus, enhancing life on Earth,” mentioned Stéphane Israël, the CEO of Arianespace, the corporate which manages the Vega rocket. “This mission actually highlights Arianespace’s dedication to house for higher life on Earth.”

Israël mentioned the launch marketing campaign, which formally started on July 12, has been “operating completely effectively”. He mentioned that the spacecraft started fueling on Aug. 16 and it was built-in with the higher stage on Aug. 27.

Starting of the top

The Vega rocket started its service again in 2012 and launched 21 occasions since then. The aim was to have a easy, overlapping transition from Vega to the Vega-C rocket, however an upper-stage problem through the second flight of Vega-C put a wrench in that plan.

On Dec. 20, 2022, about 151 seconds into flight, that rocket encountered “a progressive lower within the chamber stress” on the second stage of the rocket (Zeifro40).” An Unbiased Enquiry Fee (IEC) investigation and subsequent testing adopted.

Again in October 2023, a spokesperson for Arianespace instructed Spaceflight Now that the ultimate Vega launch was aiming for the primary quarter of 2024, following a return to flight mission of Vega-C by the top of 2023. Nevertheless, these plans additionally shifted as work continued to raised perceive the anomaly.

“I can reassure you there’s no commonality between that failure and Vega. Even the Zeifro40 engine is just not used on that automobile,” mentioned Toni Tolker-Neilsen, ESA’s Director of Area Transportation, throughout a prelaunch information convention. “We’ve got utterly redesigned the Zeifro40 nozzle to make it way more sturdy and we now have made a really profitable take a look at of this motor with the brand new nozzle design.”

That take a look at occurred in July and a second take a look at is on faucet for October. Tolker-Neilsen mentioned there’s “superb confidence” within the outcomes of the July take a look at and he mentioned they consider the testing subsequent month may also go easily, establishing a return to flight in November.

“This planning has been steady [for] many, many months. Greater than a yr, we now have had a really steady scenario and we now have been following a plan that was set out in the midst of final yr, truly, and I’m very assured that we’ll have the ability to make it,” Tolker-Neilsen mentioned.

“It could be a launch of Sentinel-1C, which is ready for its launch.”

🎥 Vega joined the @ESA_transport household of launch automobiles at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana in 2012. Tonight’s launch would be the final for #Vega, it’s being changed by Vega-C. Let’s take a look at this rocket’s historical past!
🔗 pic.twitter.com/HIhXScdw54

— ESA house historical past (@ESA_History) September 3, 2024

As soon as the transition occurs, Arianespace will likely be accountable for all of the launches as much as VV29, which represents a complete of six missions, together with the VV24 flight of Vega. After that time, Avio turns into the “sole launch supplier and operator of Vega,” based on Israël.

He mentioned they’ve missions booked by way of VV39 with a spread of shoppers, beginning with the European Fee. Beginning this month, the ESA member states determined that Avio would begin commercializing Vega-C and on the lookout for non-governmental clients along with these from the assorted governmental our bodies.

Tolker-Neilsen mentioned there are 4 Vega-C launches deliberate in 2025 and 5 in 2026. Israël affirmed that the shoppers are there to fill this manifest, including that “it will likely be the duty of Avio, for positive, 5 Vega-C per yr from 2026 onwards.” He mentioned they want to see an annual cadence of 9 to 11 Ariane 6 launches alongside 5 Vega-C missions.

Quarter century of Copernicus

The spacecraft onboard the Vega rocket set to launch Tuesday evening is a part of a program that’s marking 26 years this yr. There are seven, first-generation satellites which might be in operation and there are 13 extra satellites deliberate.

At the moment, Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B function in the identical orbit, however 180 levels aside. At an altitude of 786 km (488.4 mi.), they’ll picture all the Earth’s coastal and land waterways ever 5 days utilizing 13 spectral bands.

The primary two Sentinel-2 satellites are orbiting at an inclination of 98.62 levels.

As soon as it’s commissioned, Sentinel-2C, the third within the Sentinel-2 sequence, will substitute Sentinel-2A, which launched on June 23, 2015. Equally, as soon as Sentinel-2D launches, it can substitute Sentinel-2B, which launched on March 7, 2017.

“There are already two satellites flying, however truly they’re growing old. It’s essential to launch a brand new satellite tv for pc earlier than the others are growing old an excessive amount of,” mentioned Mauro Facchini, the European Fee’s Head of Unit for Earth Statement.

ESA mentioned the two-satellite constellation is analogous in mission targets to NASA’s Landsat program and the French Satellite tv for pc pour l’Statement de la Terre (SPOT) satellite tv for pc sequence, which have been in operation since 1972 and 1986 respectively.

The Sentinel-2 satellites have a lifespan of about 7.25 years, which features a three-month, in-orbit commissioning part. The batteries have a 12-year operational lifespan, to account for finish of life, deorbiting maneuvers.

They function a MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI), which ESA mentioned makes use of a so-called “push-broom idea.”

“A push-broom sensor works by amassing rows of picture information throughout the orbital swath and utilises the ahead movement of the spacecraft alongside the trail of the orbit to offer new rows for acquisition,” ESA wrote. “The common interval of commentary over land and coastal areas is roughly 17 minutes and the utmost interval of commentary is 32 minutes.”

These satellites have been used to assist bolster agriculture as wells as monitoring the well being of forests and monitoring methane.