SSMS POC flight (53 μnКА) - Vega (VV16) - Kourou ZLV - 03.09.2020, 01:51:10 UTC

Автор tnt22, 15.02.2020 11:01:34

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tnt22

ЦитироватьSSMS inaugural flight on Vega

 European Space Agency, ESA

14 июн. 2020 г.

Multiple small satellites will be launched at once on the Vega VV16 mission from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. This flight will demonstrate the modular SSMS dispenser resting on its upper stage intended to bring routine affordable launch opportunities for light satellites from 0.2 kg CubeSats up to 400 kg minisatellites.
Спойлер
Until now the smallest classes of satellites – all the way down to tiny CubeSats, built from 10 cm modular boxes – have typically 'piggybacked' to orbit. They have to make use of any spare capacity as a single large satellite is launched, meaning their overall launch opportunities are limited.

The new Vega Small Spacecraft Mission Service switches this into a 'rideshare' model, with multiple small satellites being flown together, splitting the launch cost.

SAB Aeropsace in the Czech Republic and Bercella in Italy designed and manufactured this modular dispenser for ESA's Vega prime contractor Avio. The component structures are made of very low-density aluminium 'sandwich' panels protected by carbon fibre reinforced polymer skins. This makes it very lightweight and rigid.

The SSMS comprises two main sections, the hexagonal lower section can hold six nanosatellites or up to a dozen CubeSat deployers while the upper section section is used for microsatellites, minisatellites and small satellites. The lower section can also be used independently, coupled with a larger satellite replacing the top section.

The hexagonal module, a central column, towers, a supporting platform and a set of standard satellite interface spacers are assembled to suit each mission and combination of satellites. For this flight, a configuration called Flexi-3 weighing just 330 kg is being used.

This demonstration flight aims to prove the technical and financial viability of the rideshare service. ESA has collaborated with the European Union, which has partly funded this mission within the Horizon 2020 programme. This is part of the Contribution Agreement between ESA and the EU on space technology activities signed on 16 April 2019.

The animation shows the separation of the ESAIL mission which is a joint ESA LuxSpace project to extend the monitoring of maritime traffic beyond existing land-based tracking of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) through the means of an array of microsatellites: SAT-AIS.
[свернуть]

youtu.be/WadGlPDUCIE

(3:59)

tnt22

http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Rideshare_service_for_light_satellites_to_launch_on_Vega

Цитата: undefinedRideshare service for light satellites to launch on Vega
12/06/2020

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 next week.

The SSMS is Europe's response to the call for affordable and timely launches for small satellites. Until now these customers have relied on spare capacity riding 'piggyback' alongside a primary satellite but spaces are limited and finding a match with mission requirements is difficult.

"This flight heralds a new era in rideshare opportunities for small satellites and shows our commitment to extending Europe's access to space capabilities to serve European institutions, strengthen our space industry and grow our economy," commented Renato Lafranconi, Vega Exploitation Programme Manager at ESA.

"New customers are keen to take their place on our next rideshare. This gives us a lot of confidence that this new service will become a vital element of the Vega launch service."


Fitted with satellites the SSMS main deck and HEX module are integrated

Maximising the number of satellites on each Vega launch lowers the cost per ridesharing customer. The SSMS can be used for a dedicated rideshare or to fit clusters of small satellites on the launch of a large satellite.

"This SSMS dispenser makes effective use of every available space thanks to a modular design approach. The lower section is hexagonal and can hold six nanosatellites or up to a dozen CubeSat deployers. The upper section is used for microsatellites, minisatellites and small satellites. The lower section can also be used independently, coupled with a larger satellite replacing the top section.

The hexagonal module, a central column, towers, a supporting platform and a set of standard satellite interface spacers are assembled to suit each mission and combination of satellites. For this flight, we are using a configuration called Flexi-3, weighing just 330 kg," explained Giorgio Tumino, managing ESA's Vega and Space Rider development programmes.

SAB Aerospace in the Czech Republic and Bercella in Italy designed and manufactured this modular dispenser for ESA's Vega prime contractor Avio. The component structures are made of very low-density aluminium 'sandwich' panels protected by carbon-fibre reinforced polymer skins. This makes it very lightweight and rigid.


SSMS modular parts

The SSMS can accommodate any combination of 0.2 kg CubeSats up to 500 kg minisatellites, from a main large satellite with smaller companions, to multiple small satellites, or dozens of individual CubeSats.

"Our objective is to ensure maximum flexibility, with an SSMS dispenser able to be assembled very close to the launch date and to meet the requirements of any mission," Giorgio added.

European public and research institutions and industry customers generally commission small satellites for low orbit applications in science, Earth observation, telecommunication and technology development.


Multiple satellites take rideshare to space on the SSMS dispenser

Among the eight European states represented in the flight aggregate were four ESA payloads – kg ESAIL microsatellite and three CubeSats: SIMBA, Picasso and FSSCat which carries pioneering technology named Φ-sat-1. Watch an animation of the launch of Vega and the release of ESAIL. 

When Vega flight VV16 reaches space, the satellite payloads will be progressively released from the SSMS dispenser in a coordinated sequence at a Sun-synchronous orbit, about 500 km above Earth.

Then, Vega's Attitude Vernier Upper Module (AVUM) upper stage will reignite its thrusters one last time to start its descent with the SSMS towards Earth to burn up on atmospheric reentry to avoid becoming space debris.

This proof-of-concept flight aims to prove the technical and financial viability of the rideshare service. ESA has leading expertise and long-standing experience in managing these types of programmes and mitigating risks. For this flight, ESA has collaborated with the European Union, which has partly funded this mission under the Horizon 2020 programme – part of the Contribution Agreement between ESA and the EU for growing space technologies in Europe. Working together like this on a common goal supports Europe's position on the global space market by establishing alliances that can reinforce existing and future programmes.

Vega is a 30 m-high, four-stage vehicle designed to accommodate between 300 kg and 1.5 tonnes of payload depending on the orbit and altitude. In the future, Vega's reignitable upper stage AVUM will allow rideshare missions to deliver payloads to three separate orbits per mission.

Watch the video below to see how this mission was taken from manufacture to flight, featuring interviews with ESA experts with news on future developments.

tnt22

Уведомления мореплавателям (последовательно: зона космодрома, зона падения 1-ст РН, совмещенная зона падения 2-й ст РН и ГО, полярная зона падения 3-й ст РН, две заявки на здну затопления AVUM в Индийском океане)

NOTMARs
Цитата: undefinedNAVAREA IV 504/20

WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FRENCH GUIANA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 181800Z TO 190251Z JUN
    IN AREA BOUND BY
    05-23.46N 052-53.80W, 05-32.00N 052-53.80W,
    05-17.66N 052-34.00W, 05-10.44N 052-38.45W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 190351Z JUN 20.//

Authority: AVURNAV CAYENNE LOCAL 1016/20 091714Z JUN 20.

Date: 130349Z JUN 20
Cancel: 19035100 Jun 20


NAVAREA IV 513/20

WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FRENCH GUIANA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
    0141Z TO 0222Z DAILY 19 JUN THRU 19 JUL
    IN AREA BOUND BY
    05-23.46N 52-53.80W, 05-48.00N 52-54.00W,
    05-50.55N 52-26.40W, 05-12.60N 52-40.98W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 190322Z JUL 20.//

Authority: AVURNAV CAYENNE 20/20 051004Z JUN 20.

Date: 140248Z JUN 20
Cancel: 19032200 Jul 20


NAVAREA IV 514/20

WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
    0051Z TO 0222Z DAILY 19 JUN THRU 19 JUL
    IN AREA BOUND BY
    09-06N 052-50W, 09-06N 052-45W,
    08-18N 052-45W, 08-18N 052-50W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 190322Z JUL 20.//

Authority: FRENCH GUIANA 041750Z JUN 20.

Date: 140458Z JUN 20
Cancel: 19032200 Jul 20


HYDROARC 86/20

ARCTIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
    190200Z JUN TO 190317Z JUL IN AREA BOUND BY
    80-10N 167-12E, 82-55N 133-18W,
    82-18N 134-30W, 79-45N 169-36E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 190417Z JUL 20.//

Authority: FRENCH GUIANA 041750Z JUN 20.

Date: 140504Z JUN 20
Cancel: 19041700 Jul 20


HYDROPAC 1757/20

INDIAN OCEAN.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
    190359Z TO 190516Z JUN IN AREA BOUND BY
    25-25S 088-30E, 07-46S 092-12E,
    07-52S 092-42E, 25-31S 089-01E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 190616Z JUN 20.//

Authority: FRENCH GUIANA 041750Z JUN 20.

Date: 140509Z JUN 20
Cancel: 19061600 Jun 20


HYDROPAC 1772/20

INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
    190359Z JUN TO 190516Z JUL IN AREA BOUND BY
    25-25S 088-30E, 07-46S 092-12E,
    07-52S 092-42E, 25-31S 089-01E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 190616Z JUL 20.//

Authority: NAVAREA VIII 340/20 151018Z JUN 20.

Date: 151255Z JUN 20
Cancel: 19061600 Jul 20

tnt22

Цитата: undefined Association des amis de l'activité spatiale dans le monde
15 июня 2020 г. в 07:52"

VEGA Vol 16 - [Spaceflight Satellite & NEMO-HD - SSMS POC FLIGHT & UPMSat-2 - SSMS POC FLIGHT & GHGSat-C1 - SSMS POC FLIGHT & IoN SCV LUCAS - SSMS POC FLIGHT & NEWSat-6 - SSMS POC FLIGHT & ESAIL - SSMS POC FLIGHT]

Подъём головного блока и установка на РН.



Спойлер




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tnt22

ЦитироватьComing Soon | VV16 – SSMS PoC Flight

 arianespace

15 июн. 2020 г.

youtu.be/hgP4DPksu4U

(0:20)

tnt22

https://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/vega-vv16-launcher-integration/

Цитата: undefinedVega | June 15, 2020
The Vega launcher is integrated for Arianespace's first rideshare mission


The payload integration process for Flight VV16 is shown at the Spaceport, beginning with Vega's upper composite being transferred to the SLV Launch Complex (photo at left). It was then hoisted up the launch site's mobile gantry for installation atop the launcher (photos center, and right).

Standing tall at the Spaceport in French Guiana, Vega has received its payload of 53 small satellites and is now undergoing final preparations for Arianespace's June 18 maiden ride-share mission with the light-lift launcher.

During integration activity at the Spaceport's SLV Launch Complex, the Vega was "topped off" with its upper composite, consisting of a new-design rideshare dispenser system carrying 46 small CubeSats and seven microsatellites weighing 15 kg. to 150 kg. – all of which are encapsulated in the launcher's protective payload fairing.

Vega is ready for final preparations leading to Thursday's nighttime liftoff on a proof of concept (PoC) mission lasting 1 hour, 44 minutes and 56 seconds, during which the payloads will be deployed in Sun-synchronous orbits for 21 customers from 13 countries.

Arianespace's small-sat rideshare solution

The Vega rideshare concept, named the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS), provides Arianespace flight opportunities for nano- and micro-satellites, offering solutions perfectly suited to this flourishing sub-segment of the launch services market.

This week's mission is designated Flight VV16 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system, indicating Vega's 16th liftoff from the Spaceport, where it operates along with the heavy-lift Ariane 5 and medium-lift Soyuz vehicles.

The SSMS rideshare satellite dispenser system is a European Space Agency (ESA) product developed by Italy's Avio under ESA leadership, and is produced by the Czech company, SAB Aerospace s.r.o.  For this week's proof of concept flight, the European Union contributed to the financing.

For Flight VV16, the launcher's seven microsatellites are installed on the dispenser's upper portion, while the 46 smaller CubeSats have been positioned on the lower portion's hexagon-shaped module.


Equipped with its 53 satellites for Flight VV16, the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) rideshare dispenser is transported within the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation facility (photo at left) for encapsulation in Vega's fairing (at right).

  • Larger versions of the photos above are available for downloading in the Gallery.

Liftoff timing for Flight VV16:
French Guiana
Washington, D.C.
UTC
Paris
10:51:10 p.m. on June 18
9:51:10 p.m. on June 18
01:51:10 on June 19
03:51:10 a.m. on June 19

tnt22

https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/PICASSO_ESA_s_CubeSat_to_sift_secrets_from_sunrise


Цитата: undefinedPICASSO, ESA's CubeSat to sift secrets from sunrise
16/06/2020

There is always a sunrise and sunset happening somewhere on our planet. Soon ESA's newest CubeSat – flying aboard Europe's Vega launcher this Friday – will be keeping watch. The miniature PICASSO mission will use the filtering of sunlight by Earth's atmosphere to check the health of our protective ozone layer.

CubeSats are miniature satellites built up from standardised 10-cm boxes. The PICo-satellite for Atmospheric and Space Science Observations, or PICASSO, developed for ESA by the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BISA), is a '3-unit' CubeSat with two scientific payloads. It hosts a cut-down spectrometer for monitoring the atmosphere, as well as sampling probes (called 'SLP') to measure space plasma around the nanosatellite.


PICASSO CubeSat in cleanroom

"PICASSO is an experiment, basically," explains project scientist Didier Fussen, heading the Solar Radiation Department at BISA. "Can an instrument providing valid scientific measurements of the ozone layer, which is a vital parameter for the health of life on Earth, be accommodated on a platform the size of a shoe box?

"The answer turns out to be yes. To make it happen we've worked with our partners AAC Clyde Space in Scotland who constructed our CubeSat, and VTT Finland who provided us with a suitably scaled-down spectrometer.

"Meanwhile BISA colleagues contributed a quartet of homemade Langmuir probes to take advantage of this flight opportunity. Extending from the solar panels of the nanosatellite, these 'SLP' probes will sample variations in space plasma across PICASSO's orbit, opening a new window on space weather.


PICASSO CubeSat

"The other essential elements enabling the mission have been financial support from BELSPO, the Belgium Science Policy Office, the UK Space Agency and the Belgian National Lottery, as well as the technical backing from ESA: CubeSats are small in scale, and use commercial off-the-shelf parts to boost affordability, but for scientific purposes their overall complexity is starting to approach that of a standard-sized mission."

Something in the air

Focused on the study of the upper atmosphere, BISA has contributed instruments to many other satellites over the years, in particular by proposing the forthcoming ESA Earth Watch mission Altius which will monitor the ozone layer and upper atmosphere across a much wider spectral band, but PICASSO is the Institute's first CubeSat mission.

The impetus for global ozone monitoring from spaceborne instruments goes back to the mid-1980s, and the shock discovery of a hole in the ozone layer by Antarctic scientists, subsequently confirmed by satellite data. The finding that the ozone layer was being eroded by human-made gases was bad news because it plays a vital role in shielding life from harmful ultraviolet radiation.


Antarctic ozone hole

In reaction, in parallel to the international banning of the 'chlorofluorocarbon' gases responsible, a new generation of ozone-monitoring instruments were designed and launched, many of which BISA contributed to. For instance, ESA's 2002-launched Envisat environmental satellite alone carried three such atmospheric sounders.

"The result was something of a golden age for ozone monitoring with a good vertical resolution," adds Dr Fussen, "but this is now coming to an end as most missions reach the end of their lives. So PICASSO will serve as a demonstrator of the capacity of small satellites to perform monitoring of atmospheric composition.

 "Current trends suggest the ozone hole is gradually stabilizing or recovering, but we cannot simply hope for the best," says Didier. "Atmospheric dynamics has a large natural variability year on year, which demands ongoing observation."


PICASSO prepared for integration

PICASSO's spectrometer operates on the basis of the solar occultation method, a sophisticated version of 'spot the difference'. It compares the spectral signatures of sunlight shone through the atmosphere with sunlight coming directly through space to perform vertical mapping of ozone concentration profiles.

Observing sunrises and sunsets twice per orbit, the CubeSat will also attempt an experimental method of taking the temperature of the upper atmosphere. Didier explains: "As we image the solar disc, we will measure how it has been compressed by the lensing effect of atmospheric refraction, making it smaller and less circular. From this 'angular size variation' it is possible to calculate the density of the air at high altitude, and from that derive its temperature."

PICASSO has been supported through the 'Fly' element of ESA's General Support Technology Programme, readying promising technologies for space. It will be launched along with dozens of other CubeSats and small satellites aboard the  inaugural flight of ESA's Vega Small Spacecraft Mission Service this Friday early morning.

Follow the launch on ESA Web TV from 03:15 CEST, with liftoff due at 03:51 CEST (01:51 UTC, 10:51 on Thursday night French Guiana time).

tnt22

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Ph-sat/FSSCat_F-sat-1_ready_for_launch


Цитата: undefinedFSSCat/Ф-sat-1 ready for launch
16/06/2020

The first artificial intelligence to be carried onboard a European Earth observation mission will be launched this week from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The pioneering artificial intelligence technology named ɸ-sat-1, pronounced PhiSat-1, will be the first experiment to improve the efficiency of sending vast quantities of data back to Earth.

Earth-observing satellites are delivering a wealth of data on a daily basis, not only to understand how our planet works, but also for use in a myriad of practical applications to improve our lives. With today's need to understand, monitor and address the current climate crisis, the demand for efficient data is more essential than ever.

As part of the drive to foster innovation and new technology, ESA has worked alongside its partners to develop ɸ-sat-1 – Europe's first artificial intelligence Earth observation mission – which will demonstrate how satellite data, coupled with digital technologies, can bring benefits to business, industry and science.


ɸ-sat AI

ɸ-sat-1 will acquire an enormous number of images that will allow scientists to monitor changes in vegetation and water quality, detect urban heat islands and carry out experiments on the role of evapotranspiration in climate change. ɸ-sat-1's hyperspectral camera will image Earth in the visible, near-infrared and thermal-infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.

"However, some of the images acquired will not be suitable for use because of cloud cover," explains Massimiliano Pastena, ɸ-sat Technology Engineer at ESA. "The ɸ-sat-1 artificial intelligence will automatically filter these images out, so that only usable data are returned back to Earth. This will make the process of handling these data more efficient, allowing users access to more timely information."

ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Josef Aschbacher, comments "ESA is continuously pushing innovation to the extreme. ɸ-sat-1 combines the power of artificial intelligence with innovative Earth observation CubeSat technology. This is an experiment to test new technologies and to lower the cost of space missions. It is a crucial step to open up completely new opportunities in the fast-developing domain of Earth observation that will allow tailored information for customised services. ESA is also keen to gain experience on how this combination of technologies could eventually be used in larger-scale operational spacecraft.



FSSCAT

"ɸ-sat-1 is an important step forward for Earth observation satellite missions and I am very proud that we at ESA, and our industry partners, are leading the way with this new approach for Earth observation."

ɸ-sat-1 is an enhancement of the Federated Satellite Systems mission, or FSSCat for short. As the overall 2017 Copernicus Masters winner, FSSCat, was proposed by Spain's Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and developed by a consortium of European companies and institutes. The FSSCat mission is based on two CubeSats, each about the size of a shoebox, that will collect data to measure, for example, soil moisture, sea-ice extent and sea-ice thickness.

FSSCat/ɸ-sat-1 will be launched on Friday on a Vega rocket from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana. Follow the live streaming of the launch on ESA WebTV. Liftoff is currently scheduled for 03:51:10 CEST (01:51 UTC, 10:51 on Thursday night French Guiana time).

tnt22

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/ESAIL_maritime_satellite_ready_for_launch


Цитата: undefinedESAIL maritime satellite ready for launch
12/06/2020

The ESAIL microsatellite for tracking ships worldwide – developed under an ESA Partnership Project – has completed its accommodation on Vega's new dispenser for small satellites and is ready for launch.

The Vega launch campaign at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, resumed three weeks ago, following an interruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.


The ESAIL satellite mounted on Arianespace's new launch adapter for Small Satellite Mission Service

ESAIL is due to be delivered into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of more than 500 km on Arianespace's first Vega Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) rideshare flight. The launch will deliver seven microsatellites and 46 cubesats into orbit, using a new satellite dispenser that spreads the cost of launch between many customers.


Artist's view of Vega flight VV16 with the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) dispenser and SAT-AIS.

The ESAIL high-performance microsatellite was built by LuxSpace under an ESA Partnership Project with the Canadian operator exactEarth. The project was supported by the Luxembourg Space Agency and other ESA member states.

ESA's Partnership Projects aim to develop sustainable end-to-end systems, right up to in-orbit validation.

ESAIL will track ships worldwide by detecting messages that ships radio-broadcast with their automatic identification systems (AIS).

As part of exactEarth's satellite-based AIS constellation, ESAIL will provide data also to the European Maritime Safety Agency for the next generation of global maritime traffic services.

ESAIL enables fisheries monitoring, fleet management, environmental protection and security monitoring for maritime and government authorities and industry – making the seas safer.

tnt22

Пуск сдвинут вправо на двое суток (с 19-го на 21-е)

https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/flight-vv16-vega-ssms-poc-flight-launch-delay-due-to-weather-conditions/

Цитата: undefinedVega | June 17, 2020
Flight VV16: Vega – SSMS PoC Flight – Launch delay due to weather conditions

Due to currently unfavorable wind conditions at altitude above the Guiana Space Center, Arianespace has decided not to initiate the final phase of launch preparation operations.

Subject to favorable weather conditions, the soonest possible launch date for the SSMS PoC Flight is Saturday, June 20 at:
  • 9:51:10 p.m., Washington, D.C. time
  • 10:51:10 p.m., Kourou, French Guiana time
  • 01:51:10, Universal Time (UTC), on June 21
  • 03:51:10 a.m., Paris & Rome time, on June 21

The Vega launch vehicle and its 53 spacecraft payloads are in stable and safe conditions.

tnt22

https://ria.ru/20200618/1573094867.html

Цитата: undefinedПуск ракеты Vega с космодрома Куру отложили из-за непогоды
02:18 18.06.2020

МОСКВА, 18 июн - РИА Новости. Пуск ракеты Vega с 53 спутниками с космодрома Куру во французской Гвиане отложен из-за непогоды, сообщает компания Arianespace.

Пуск ракеты был запланирован на 22.51 среды по местному времени (04.51 четверга мск).

Цитата: undefined"Из-за неблагоприятных погодных условий, связанных с ветрами на большой высоте над Гвианским космическим центром, Arianespace решила не начинать финальную фазу подготовки к пуску", - говорится в заявлении компании.

Arianespace подчеркнула, что ближайшее возможное время пуска Vega – суббота, 20 июня.
Спойлер
Старт ракеты Vega с 53 спутниками намечался на 24 марта, но в середине марта компания Arianespace объявила, что подготовка к пускам ракет на космодроме Куру, в том числе российских "Союзов", приостановлена из-за распространения коронавируса. В конце апреля Arianespace сообщила, что подготовка к пускам возобновляется.

В 2012-2019 годах с космодрома Куру были запущены 15 ракет Vega, один пуск закончился аварией. В четвертой ступени ракеты используются титановые топливные баки производства российского НПО имени Лавочкина.
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Прим. Суббота - по местному времени, по UTC и ДМВ - воскресенье, 21 июня

tnt22


tnt22

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/06/18/vega-rockets-return-to-flight-launch-waits-for-improved-wind-conditions/

Цитата: undefinedVega rocket's return-to-flight launch waits for improved wind conditions
June 18, 2020 | Stephen Clark


The Vega rocket's payload fairing — containing 53 satellites — is transferred to the Vega launch pad in French Guiana. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – P. Baudon

The first launch of an Italian-made Vega rocket since an in-flight failure nearly one year ago has been postponed to no earlier than Monday night due to unfavorable upper level winds over the Vega launch base in Kourou, French Guiana.

The four-stage rocket was scheduled to take off from French Guiana on Thursday night, but officials said late Wednesday that the mission would be pushed back until at least Saturday night. Sources said Thursday that the winds aloft are not expected to improve enough to allow launch until no earlier than Monday night.

When it takes off, the Vega launcher will carry 53 small satellites into orbit on the first large-scale rideshare mission for Arianespace, the French company that oversees Vega sales and launch operations.

The 53 spacecraft mounted on top of the 98-foot-tall (30-meter) come from 21 customers in 13 countries, including European Space Agency member states, the United States, Canada, Argentina, Thailand and Israel.

Whatever day the mission launches, liftoff of the Vega rocket from the Guiana Space Center is targeted for 9:51:10 p.m. EDT (10:51 p.m. French Guiana time; 0151 GMT).

The Vega rocket is set for its first launch since July 2019, when a failure on the Vega's solid-fueled second stage motor led to the destruction of the Falcon Eye 1 military reconnaissance satellite for the United Arab Emirates.

Avio, the Italian company that builds most of the Vega rocket, said an investigation into the July 2019 launch failure concluded super-hot gas from burning solid propellant impinged on the structure of the Vega rocket's Zefiro 23 second stage on the mission last July, resulting in a "thermo-structural failure" on the second stage's forward dome.

The hot gas, which burns at more than 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (3,000 degrees Celsius), damaged or burned through the carbon fiber structure on the second stage. The structural failure led to the in-flight breakup of the launch vehicle with the UAE's Falcon Eye 1 spy satellite.

According to Giulio Ranzo, Avio's CEO, investigators determined a "manufacturing anomaly" slipped through Avio's quality control checks.

"We had thermal protection (on the second stage) where the thickness was perhaps less than one millimeter short, so we had a very, very tiny deviation that was undetectable to all the quality checks," Ranzo said in March during an interview with Spaceflight Now.

"So what we have done is we have greatly improved the technologies to allow for the manufacturing quality controls — using not only ultrasound but also digital radiography — in a much finer way with respect to work we used to do in the past," Ranzo said.

Avio pulled hardware from the company's Zefiro 23 production line in Italy, ran it through the improved quality control checks, and successfully test-fired the rocket motor at a test site in Sardinia.

"We test-fired a Zefiro 23 without any modifications," Ranzo said. "But we picked one from production that we subjected to a much deeper quality control. So what we tested was our ability to detect a manufacturing production defect at a much finer level."


Artist's illustration of the 53 small satellites riding on the Vega rocket's first dedicated rideshare mission. In this illustration, the Vega rocket's Zefiro 9 third stage motor is firing. Credit: ESA – J. Huart

Ranzo said Avio also added extra thermal insulation on the Zefiro 23 second stage motor.

"It's probably not necessary, but we increased the safety margin," he said. "So we are now approaching the flight with much better comfort with respect to safety."

Engineers also modified parts of the Vega's telemetry, flight safety and self-destruct devices, Ranzo said.

The Vega rocket had amassed 15 straight successful launches since its debut flight in February 2012, but the failure last year showed the launch vehicle's reliability could be improved.

"We took the opportunity to increase the safety margin at a general level all across the launcher," he said. "So we introduced some video cameras on-board to acquire more data and other sensors to continue monitoring exactly what happens, and continue learning as we go.

"I would say what came out is a launcher that is better and is updated with respect to what we had in the past, not only for the Zefiro 23 but also beyond."

The rideshare mission set for launch on the Vega rocket is the first flight of the Small Spacecraft Mission Service, or SSMS, platform designed to accommodate dozens of microsatellites and CubeSats on a single launch.

Development of the SSMS carbon fiber dispenser was started by the European Space Agency in 2016. The first SSMS launch, designated as a "proof of concept" flight, will carry 53 spacecraft into orbit ranging in mass between about 2 pounds (1 kilogram) and 330 pounds (150 kilograms), according to Arianespace.

The mission will carry more satellites into orbit than any previous European rocket launch. The record number of satellites ever carried on a single rocket launch is 104, a mark set in 2017 on a flight by India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

"We have SuperDoves from Planet, we have Spire on-board, we have GHGSat from Canada, we have some from the European Commission," Ranzo said in an interview in March with Spaceflight Now. "We have a whole bunch of customers coming from all over the world, so not bad. It's fully loaded. We basically have no room left for additional payloads. It's the first time in Europe that we do a massive rideshare which has such a different in satellites from the size of one to the size of another."

Avio and Arianespace are planning more SSMS rideshare missions, beginning in late 2021 or early 2022 with the SSMS 2 mission on a Vega C rocket. The Vega C is an upgraded version of the Vega rocket scheduled to debut in early 2021.

With three solid-fueled stages and a liquid-fueled upper stage, the Vega rocket can loft a payload of up to 3,300 pounds into a polar sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude of 435 miles (700 kilograms). It can carry heavier cargo than commercial small satellite launchers, such as Rocket Lab's Electron vehicle, but the Vega's lift capacity falls short of bigger rockets like SpaceX's Falcon 9.

The Vega rocket's rideshare launch service will compete with smallsat launch companies, India's PSLV, and companies like SpaceX, which announced last year a renewed focus on contracts to carry small satellites into orbit on rideshare launches using Falcon 9 rockets.

SpaceX said Wednesday it had signed up to launch more than 100 small spacecraft on multiple Falcon 9 rockets since it announced the rideshare launch program in August 2019. Some of those satellites will launch as secondary payloads on Falcon 9 missions delivering Starlink Internet satellites to orbit, and others will ride to space on Falcon 9 missions dedicated to carrying clusters of customer smallsats into orbit.


File photo of a Vega rocket on the launch pad. Credit: ESA-Manuel Pedoussaut

The Vega launch next week will also mark the first liftoff from the European-run spaceport in French Guiana since Feb. 18, when Arianespace launched a heavy-lift Ariane 5 rocket.

Arianespace and Avio planned to launch the Vega rocket's SSMS rideshare mission March 23, but officials suspended launch preparations at the Guiana Space Center in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Teams from Europe needed to ready the Vega rocket and its payloads for flight returned to French Guiana in May to resume the launch campaign. Officials introduced physical distancing measures and required workers to wear face coverings and other personal protective equipment, while some workers took part in launch preparations remotely utilizing video conferencing for inspections and pre-flight reviews.

Public launch viewing sites at the Guiana Space Center remain closed due to the threat from the COVID-19 viral disease.

tnt22

#53
Снова едем дальше вправо (но уже без конкретики)

https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/vega-flight-vv16-the-ssms-poc-mission-new-postponement-due-to-weather-conditions/
https://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/new-postponement-for-vega-flight-vv16-due-to-weather-conditions/

Цитата: undefinedVega | June 19, 2020
Vega Flight VV16 – the SSMS PoC mission – New postponement due to weather conditions

As high-altitude winds above the Guiana Space Center remain unfavorable, Arianespace has taken the decision not to initiate the final chronology operations for Flight VV16 on Saturday, June 20, 2020.

A new target date will be announced as soon as possible, based on the evolution of weather conditions.

The Vega launch vehicle and its 53 spacecraft payloads are in stable and safe conditions.

tnt22

https://tass.ru/kosmos/8777619

Цитата: undefined20 ИЮН, 11:54
Запуск ракеты Vega с 53 спутниками с космодрома Куру снова отложили из-за ветра
Новая планируемая дата будет объявлена с учетом погодной ситуации, отмечается в заявлении корпорации Arianespace

ПАРИЖ, 20 июня. /ТАСС/. Запуск европейской ракеты-носителя Vega с 53 микро- и наноспутниками на борту с космодрома Куру во Французской Гвиане вновь отложен из-за неблагоприятных погодных условий. Об этом сообщила в субботу корпорация Arianespace.

"Поскольку погодные условия, вызванные ветром, остаются неблагоприятными, Arianespace решила не приступать к заключительным операциям запуска Vega, которые были запланированы на 20 июня", - указывается в сообщении компании. "Новая планируемая дата будет объявлена по возможности быстро, с учетом погодной ситуации", - подчеркивается в заявлении Arianespace.

Изначально планировалось, что запуск Vega состоится 18 июня, однако из-за сильного ветра он был отложен. Пуск предполагалось осуществить 20 июня (в 04:51 мск 21 июня). Предполагаемая продолжительность миссии VV16 составляет примерно два часа. Последние спутники должны отделиться от ракеты-носителя спустя 1 час 44 минуты после старта. Общая масса груза составляет 1,3 тонны.

Запуск Vega с 53 микро- и наноспутниками на борту должен стать первым после вынужденного перерыва из-за пандемии коронавируса, распространение которого все еще продолжается во Французской Гвиане. Он также будет первым в рамках проекта SSMS по отправке на орбиту малых космических аппаратов. В рамках нынешней миссии Arianespace планирует вывести на орбиту спутники 21 заказчика из 13 стран. Аппараты массой до 150 кг будут выполнять различные задачи, включая наблюдение за Землей, обеспечение телекоммуникаций, научные измерения, испытание технологий и реализацию образовательных проектов.

Pirat5

28.06.2020 o 01:51:10 z wyrzutni ZLV w Kourou wystrzelona zostanie RN Vega, która wyniesie na orbitę ładunek SSMS POC, ...
http://lk.astronautilus.pl/plan.htm

Pirat5

Bad news, there's a storm coming up. The next attempt is scheduled for June 28 at 1h51 UTC.
If the flight is delayed again, the launcher will have to be un-fairinged, so there will be several more days of delay.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=48464.msg2099711#msg2099711

tnt22

#57
Стикер миссии

Источник


tnt22

Появилось неявное подтверждение даты пуска - 28 июня, - запланированы англо- и франкоязычные трансляции пуска на ТыТрубе

Цитата: undefined
- на английском языке




- на французском языке


tnt22

https://tass.ru/kosmos/8831069

Цитировать27 ИЮН, 14:07
Запуск ракеты Vega с 53 спутниками запланирован на 27 июня

ПАРИЖ, 27 июня. /ТАСС/. Запуск европейской ракеты-носителя Vega с 53 микро- и наноспутниками на борту с космодрома Куру во Французской Гвиане может состояться 27 июня в 22:51 по гвианскому времени (04:51 мск 28 июня), если позволят метеоусловия. Об этом сообщила в субботу корпорация Arianespace.

"Погодные условия, наблюдаемые над космодромом, позволяют возобновить операции по запуску Vega", - отмечается в коммюнике. Там добавили, что запуск состоится 27 июня в 22:51 по гвианскому времени в случае подтверждения хороших погодных условий.

Изначально планировалось, что запуск Vega состоится 18 июня, однако из-за сильного ветра он был отложен. Затем пуск предполагалось осуществить 20 июня (в 04:51 мск 21 июня), однако тогда он тоже был отложен. Предполагаемая продолжительность миссии VV16 составляет примерно 2 часа. Последние спутники должны отделиться от ракеты-носителя спустя 1 час 44 минуты после старта. Общая масса груза составляет 1,3 тонны.

Запуск Vega с 53 микро- и наноспутниками на борту должен стать первым после вынужденного перерыва из-за пандемии коронавируса, распространение которого все еще продолжается во Французской Гвиане. Он также будет первым в рамках проекта SSMS по отправке на орбиту малых космических аппаратов. В рамках нынешней миссии Arianespace планирует вывести на орбиту спутники 21 заказчика из 13 стран. Аппараты массой до 150 кг будут выполнять различные задачи, включая наблюдение за Землей, обеспечение телекоммуникаций, научные измерения, испытание технологий и реализацию образовательных проектов.