Proba-V + попутные ПН - Vega (VV02) - 07.05.2013 - Куру

[Salo]

20 апреля в 06:00 ЛМВ.

[Petrovich]

Salo пишет:
 http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1024.asp 

Ага, он уже в Гвиане

[Petrovich]

Cube-1 has now arrived in the cleanroom in the Guiana Space Center. It was taken out from the ISIPOD, which went to fit checking with the adapter plate, that will be connected to the Vega rocket. We are in the same huge cleanroom with the whole Vega-2 fairing, but unfortunately we are not legally allowed to make pictures of anything but our own corner (we are still trying to get those pictures, but it will take time). Anyway we saw the fairing and also they explained how it operates.

[Petrovich]

Today we connected to the satellite on the table and managed to communicate with it, even remote connections fr om our team members in Estonia worked, so everything is progressing towards the launch as expected. Also the manager of the whole Vega launcher program came to inspect our progress personally in the cleanroom, wh ere we demonstrated our satellite. During the coming days we will do some calibrations and update the software on the satellite.

[salto]

Salo пишет:
 http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1024.asp

Vega receives its upper stage as the next mission's two primary passengers land in French Guiana

March 11, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02

Both primary payloads for Vega's no. 2 flight have arrived at French Guiana, positioning them for integration on the light-lift launcher – which has marked another step in preparation for its mission in April from the Spaceport.

On the launch pad, the basic Vega vehicle has been "topped off" with its upper stage, called the AVUM (Attitude and Vernier Upper Module). This system performs the attitude control and axial thrust functions during the final phases of Vega's mission profile, enabling the payload to be placed into orbit. Unlike the launcher's three lower solid propellant stages, the AVUM uses liquid bipropellant for primary maneuvering, along with cold gas for attitude control.

The AVUM's integration atop Vega was performed inside the ZLV launch site's mobile gantry. This Spaceport facility originally was used for missions of the Ariane 1 and Ariane 3 vehicles, with its mobile gantry, launch pad and infrastructure updated and adapted to meet the operational requirements of Arianespace's new lightweight vehicle.

While Vega is taking shape at the Spaceport, its Proba-V and VNREDSat-1A satellites have touched down in French Guiana aboard a chartered Boeing 747 cargo aircraft that arrived at Félix Eboué Airport near the capital city of Cayenne.

Proba-V will have an estimated mass at launch of 160 kg., and was produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium for the European Space Agency. Operating in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit after its deployment by Vega, this satellite will monitor global vegetation growth. The spacecraft carries a newly-designed version of the Vegetation instrument previously flown on the Spot series of Earth observation satellites, which also were orbited by Arianespace.

The VNREDSat-1A co-passenger on Vega is an optical observation spacecraft built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and will have a mass at liftoff of approximately 120 kg. It is to support the Vietnamese government's initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better monitoring and studies of climate change effects, while also improving predictions and actions to prevent natural disasters and optimizing the country's management of its natural resources.

Joining them on the upcoming Vega mission is Estonia's first satellite – the 1.33-kg. ESTCube-1 – being developed by students from Tartu University, the Estonian Aviation Academy, the Tallinn University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences, all working in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German DLR space center.

ESTCube-1's main mission is to test a novel space propulsion technology based on the electric solar wind sail concept, with this 10 x 10 x 10-cm. mini platform carrying a deployable 10-meter-long tether to be unreeled in orbit and electrically charged.

Vega's mission in April is designated Flight VV02 in Arianespace's numbering system, with the first "V" representing the French word for flight ("vol"), and the second letter referring to Vega. It is one of the flights scheduled in the European Space Agency's VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program, which aims to demonstrate the Vega launch system's flexibility as well as its ability to carry multiple satellite passengers.

The four-stage Vega is tailored for small- to medium-sized satellites, complementing Arianespace's medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 to provide a complete family of vehicles. It was developed in a European Space Agency program led by Italy's ASI space agency and industrial prime contractor ELV SpA.

 
 
The Proba-V and VNREDSat-1A satellites are unloaded from a 747 cargo jetliner at Félix Eboué Airport,

 
while Vega receives its AVUM upper stage inside the mobile gantry at the Spaceport's ZLV launch site.

А как дела с жидкостной ступенью? Что там Украина поставила?

[Ярослав]

salto пишет:
А как дела с жидкостной ступенью? Что там Украина поставила?

так вроде ж пишут - The AVUM's integration atop Vega was performed inside the ZLV launch site's mobile gantry.

[Salo]

salto пишет:
А как дела с жидкостной ступенью? Что там Украина поставила?

А задать этот вопрос не процитировав всё сообщение было никак нельзя?
Украина поставила маршевый ЖРД этой жидкостной ступени.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1025.asp

The two primary payloads for Vega's second launch are readied at the Spaceport

March 14, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02

Payload preparations for the second Vega launch from French Guiana have commenced, with this upcoming mission's two primary satellite passengers – VNREDSat-1A  and Proba-V – now undergoing their initial checkout at the Spaceport.   Vega is the lightweight member of Arianespace's launcher family, which joins its medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 vehicles.

These pre-launch activities kicked off this month, following arrival of the two spacecraft in French Guiana. Preparations for VNREDSat-1A began inside the Spaceport's S5A building, while Proba-V was based at the S1B clean room facility.

The VNREDSat-1A co-passenger on Vega will have a mass of approximately 120 kg. at liftoff.  It was built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and will support the Vietnamese government's initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing the country's natural resource management.

Proba-V was produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium for the European Space Agency and will have an estimated launch mass of 160 kg. Carrying a newer version of the Vegetation imaging instrument previously flown on the Spot series of Earth observation satellites – which also were orbited by Arianespace – Proba-V will monitor global vegetation growth.

Estonia's first satellite, the 1.33-kg. ESTCube-1, will be lofted as well on the upcoming Vega mission.  Developed by students from Tartu University, the Estonian Aviation Academy, the Tallinn University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences, this small spacecraft has been evolved in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Space Center (DLR).

This upcoming mission – planned for April – is designated Flight VV02, and is one of the flights scheduled in the European Space Agency's VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program – which aims to demonstrate the Vega launch system's flexibility as well as its ability to carry multiple satellite passengers.


Proba-V undergoes its checkout inside the S1B clean room.


VNREDSat-1A, which began its processing in the S5A integration hall of the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation building.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1026.asp

Estonia's student cubesat satellite is ready for the next Vega launch

March 20, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02

The tiny spacecraft passenger for Vega's upcoming Flight VV02 is getting the same "white glove" treatment as the launch's two larger payloads, with Estonia's ESTCube-1 student satellite now mission-ready at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

In the Spaceport's S1B clean room, ESTCube-1 has been integrated in its box-type dispenser – readying the cubesat for integration in the Vega launcher's payload "stack," along with the Proba-V and VNREDSat-1A passengers.

ESTCube-1 is the first Estonian satellite, built by a collaboration of students from Tartu University, Estonian Aviation Academy, Tallinn University of Technology and University of Life Sciences, and was developed in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Space Center (DLR).

This spacecraft is 1U-category cubesat – sized at 10x10x10 cm. – which is the smallest of the nanosatellite types typically used for educational purposes and technology-proving applications. Weighing 1.33 kg., its purpose is to test electric solar wind sail technologies, as well as help establish an Estonian infrastructure for future space projects.

Vega Flight VV02 is the second launch for Arianespace's lightweight vehicle and is being conducted in conjunction with the European Space Agency's VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program.

The VNREDSat-1A primary passenger for this mission will have a mass of approximately 120 kg. at liftoff, and is to support the Vietnamese government's initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing the country's natural resource management. VNREDSat-1A was built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

As the Vega flight's other primary passenger, Proba-V is to monitor global vegetation growth, equipped with a newer version of the Vegetation imaging instrument that previously was flown on the Spot series of Earth observation satellites – which also were orbited by Arianespace. The 160-kg. Proba-V spacecraft was produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium for the European Space Agency.


ESTCube-1 is ins erted in to the cubesat's dispenser during preparations this week at the Spaceport's S1B clean room in French Guiana.

[instml]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Snap-proof_space_tether

[instml]

http://www.estcube.eu/en/home

[Salo]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions/Satellite_s_fibre_diet_Proba-V_hosting_fibre_optics_test

Satellite's fibre diet: Proba-V hosting fibre optics test26 March 2013

26 March 2013



Along with its main task of mapping our planet's vegetation, ESA's Proba-V satellite will also serve as a miniature engineering lab in orbit. Less than a cubic metre in volume, Proba-V is hosting five additional technology experiments, including innovative testing of fibre optics for space.

Partnered companies in Norway and Spain beat a tough three-month deadline to complete the Hermod payload – named for a divine messenger in Norse mythology – to test novel multi-line fibre optic cables and high-density connectors.

This will be the first of two fibre optics experiments ESA will fly this year: Hermod's design was modified from one of the hosted payloads aboard Europe's full-sized Alphasat telecom satellite, due for launch this summer.

Down on the ground, optical fibres – light-based signals pulsed along hair-thick lines of glass – have been progressively replacing metal wiring for communications infrastructure, offering practically unlimited bandwidth with decreased weight and increased flexibility.

Satellite designers are interested in their capacity to reduce mission mass – the amount of wiring flown on a typical space mission can run to many kilograms – while also taking advantage of optical fibres' resistance to temperature and radiation.

In addition, optical fibres have no electrical noise to leak, an attribute that led ESA to make the very first mission-critical use of them for its SMOS satellite, launched in November 2009.

This 'Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity' mission detects very faint radio emissions from Earth's ocean and soil surfaces, which would have drowned out by electromagnetic interference from standard wires. Instead it carries more than 500 m of optical fibres.

In addition, the Proba-2 satellite, sharing SMOS's rocket to orbit, demonstrated the potential of optical fibres to serve as onboard temperature and pressure sensors – creating a satellite nervous system.

"SMOS was pioneering in its use of optical fibres, but all the connections had to be made individually, which made for a demanding integration process," explained ESA photonics component engineer Stephan Hernandez, overseeing the Hermod payload.

"The aim is to make the use of optical fibres in space more straightforward and bring down the cable volume needed still further by demonstrating the same kind of high-density link connectors employed by terrestrial industry.

"Guided by space industry input, we already had a project to test these connectors for space applications – then came the opportunity to actually test in orbit on Proba-V."

ESA worked with Norwegian company T&G Elektro and Spanish firm DAS Photonics to meet the strict three-month deadline to fly on Proba-V. To save time, the team adapted systems from the existing Alphasat Environment Monitor (overseen by EFACEC, Portugal), testing optical fibre performance in the geostationary space environment. The team also benefited from the strong support of the Proba-V project team.

[Salo]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions/Proba-V_launch_diary_-_part_1

Proba-V launch diary part 1


Proba-V's journey begins
12 March 2013

Karim Mellab, ESA's Proba-V Project Manager, shares his experiences of the launch campaign in Kourou, French Guiana:

Спойлер

Day –1: Wednesday 6 March

Departure of the satellite and associated hardware from QinetiQ Space in Kruibeke, Belgium to Brussels airport for packaging on an aircraft pallet.

Day 0: Thursday 7 March

In parallel with Proba-V's initial team from QinetiQ (Davy Vrancken, Tom Debraekeleer and Bart De Wilde) travelling to Kourou, the satellite travelled from Brussels airport to Paris Orly airport by lorry. The satellite was stored in the Air France warehouse overnight.


Proba-V on pallet ready for flying

Day 1: Friday 8 March

The satellite was loaded in the Air France daily passenger flight at 09:40 CET. The flight took off at 10:58 CET en route to Kourou. The satellite and its associated hardware travelled unattended. The first wave of the ESA team (Michale Francois and me) departed on the same day, aboard the Air Caraibes flight departing at 12:50 CET.

The Air France flight landed at Kourou 9:20 hours later, at 16:15 local time.

The Proba-V auxiliary passenger on the same Vega flight (Vietnamese Earth observation mission VNREDSat) arrived in Kourou the same day at 16:00, travelling with an Air France charter cargo.

Offloading of Proba-V from the aircraft proved a very smooth process. The satellite container and the two batteries (flight and spare) were loaded in an air-conditioned truck. The convoy escorted by the Gendarmerie started the final trip to the Guiana Space Centre at 19:30 and arrived there at 21:15. One QinetiQ Space team member travelled with the satellite container while a second followed the convoy.


Proba-V arriving in French Guiana

The associated equipment (Ground Segment Equipment, GSE) was also unloaded and loaded on to a dedicated lorry that started immediately travelling to CSG. One QinetiQ team member escorted the ground equipment. All equipment was placed in secure storage inside CSG.

The ESA team arrived at CSG at the same time as the satellite and was present for the offloading of the lorry into the airlock of the S1B EPCU (Ensemble Preparation Charge Utile) payload preparation building. An hour later the airlock was opened and the containers moved inside the cleanroom. The EPCU was then closed and secured for the night. The EPCU will be the new home of the satellite for the next three weeks.

A very long working day that ended only at 00:30.

Day 2: Saturday 9 March

The day started with the daily meeting with CNES and Arianespace and the opening of the EPCU secured area. The day was dedicated to the opening of Proba-V's associated hardware containers, preparation of the integration hall and the set-up of the satellite stand.

At the end of the external part of the satellite container was opened in order to prepare for the satellite opening on Monday.


Unpacked Proba-V and test equipment

Day 3: Sunday 10 March

A day off; so the whole of the Proba-V team on the scene so far went for a walk in the jungle. The OIP Sensor Systems team, developer of the Vegetation Instrument, arrived in French Guiana.

Day 4: Monday 11 March

Daily meeting for preparation of the day's activities. The first activity was the removal of satellite from its container and the positioning on its stand.

In parallel the OIP team prepared the Optical Ground Support Equipment needed for the alignment check of the instrument.

The day continued with the installation and setup of all the GSE, the day finishing at 19:30.

[свернуть]

[Salo]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Proba_Missions/Proba-V_launch_diary_part_2

Proba-V launch diary part 2


Proba-V Vegetation instrument alignment testing

 22 March 2013

Karim Mellab, ESA's Proba-V Project Manager, shares his experiences of the launch campaign in Kourou, French Guiana

Спойлер

Day 5: Tuesday 12 March

At the same time that Proba-V's electrical ground support equipment (EGSE) and control computer were being installed, the OIP Sensor Systems team finalised the optical alignment setup for testing the Vegetation instrument.

The flight battery was installed on the satellite. Having been fully discharged for transport, it was now fully charged without any problems. Once the charged battery is in place, the satellite itself can be turned on and booted. In support of alignment testing, images were acquired with the Vegetation instrument. The testing was completed ahead of schedule, demonstrating that Vegetation has not deteriorated during its trip fr om Europe.

The latest version of the flight software was also uploaded to Proba-V's onboard computer today. The functional test of the satellite was started, continuing into the following day. Both primary and redundant computers were operated.

The EPCU (Ensemble Preparation Charge Utile) payload preparation building was closed for the day at 19:00.


Proba-V fit check

Day 6: Wednesday 13 March

The normal workday began with daily meetings and the opening of the EPCU. Today was mainly dedicated to checking out all functions of the satellite. A specific check of Vegetation camera behaviour was performed, measuring dark and illuminated images.

Following the success of the alignment check and functional tests of the Vegetation instrument, the multi-layer insulation (MLI) around it has been closed for the final time.

Finally, an inspection of the instrument optics was performed. This marked an important milestone in the readiness of the instrument for flight.

No anomalies were encountered during the functional check and the EPCU was closed around 19:00.


Illumination testing of Proba-V's Vegetation instrument

Day 7: Thursday 14 March

A normal start to the day with the EPCU opening around 08:45.

With Vegetation testing complete, the OIP team packed the theodolite equipment needed for shipment back to Europe.

This day was mostly dedicated to team safety training, in order to allow them to work on the gantry of the mobile launch tower in the presence of the Vega launcher. The spectacular part of this training was a jump fr om second-storey scaffolding down into a security sock. The whole team passed – though some members asked to try again! A full visit to the launch tower was then conducted. The team had the chance to view each stage of the Vega launcher on the launch pad, up to the AVUM fourth stage.

Following the safety training, the team returned to the EPCU to prepare for the first fit check of the interface with the separation system. The fit check was successfully performed with the support of the European Launch Vehicle (ELV) company team and the satellite was then repositioned on its stand.

The day ended with the closure of EPCU at 20:00.


Proba-V team visit the Vega mobile launch tower

Day 8: Friday 15 March

The EPCU was opened at 09:00 after our 'ritual' daily meetings.

Software testing continued, focusing on the satellite's activation sequence and testing possible hardware failure cases.

In parallel, the solar panels that were removed from the satellite upon arrival at Kourou were electrically tested. The collected information was transmitted to specialists at ESTEC to carry out a full analysis. The results are anticipated for the middle of next week, after which the solar panels will be re-integrated.

The satellite was also prepared for the reintegration of the ADS-B technology payload. Developed by the Germany's DLR space agency and provided on an in-kind basis, the goal is to demonstrate air traffic monitoring from space. An anomaly was detected during the functional test in Europe during system testing.

The day concluded around 18:30 with the closure of the EPCU.


Practicing evacuation jump

Day 9: Saturday 16 March

No daily meeting with Arianespace today and the EPCU was opened around 09:15.

Today was dedicated to the reinstallation of ADS-B into the satellite and its full functional test. The DLR team arrived on site around 10:00 and after receiving their security badges were allowed to enter the EPCU.

The ADS-B tests were conducted and the payload was declared good for flight.

The day ended around 18:30 with the closure of the EPCU.

Some team members, not involved with the ADS-B testing, were able to organise a trip down to the border with Suriname that afternoon, wh ere they witnessed the amazing egg laying of the Leatherback sea turtle by night.

Day 10: Sunday 17 March

A day off! The entire team went for a visit to the famous 'Ils du Salut' off Kourou, which served as a penal colony for French prisoners in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Day 11: Monday 18 March

The second week of the launch campaign began early with the opening of the EPCU at 08:00, followed by the daily meeting.

In the integration hall the day was dedicated to continuing the software testing, including ADS-B validation.

The 'Revue d'aptitude au vol' (RAV) or flight readiness review meeting took place by videoconference between the various ESA sites involved, including Kourou.

At the end of the day electrical connectivity between Proba-V and the separation system was achieved.

Day 12: Tuesday 19 March

Early in the day, around 07:00, the satellite was readied to run simulations of orbital data acquisition from the Vegetation instrument. Lasting the whole day, this simulation included the camera's control centre – known as its User Segment. The acquired data were sent to the User Segment to validate the full chain of data acquisition. This test had already been performed in Europe, but was repeated here in Kourou to gain full confidence in the correct behaviour of all elements involved in the Proba-V mission.

The day ended at 19:30 with the final closure of the integration hall.


Proba-V data acquisition simulation

Day 13: Wednesday 20 March

Preparation for the launch took place today with testing on the pad of the electrical connectivity between the launcher and the Proba-V access point for the satellite battery charger. Proba-V's test team was deployed both on top of the mobile gantry and at its base to verify the correct installation of the harness from the top of the Vega launcher to the bunker wh ere activities to babysit the satellite will take place once it is installed in the launcher fairing.

In parallel, software testing continued in the EPCU.

[свернуть]

[Salo]

http://spaceinimages.esa.int/Images/2013/04/Proba-V_integrated_onto_launch_adapter


http://spaceinimages.esa.int/Images/2013/04/Proba-V_integration_on_launch_adapter


http://spaceinimages.esa.int/Images/2013/04/Proba-V_integrated_with_launch_adapter

[Salo]

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30232.msg1035694#msg1035694

Galactic Penguin SST пишет:

It looks like there may be a delay to NET April 29 for this launch....

http://www.forum-conquete-spatiale.fr/t7262p225-nouvelles-du-lanceur-vega

[Salo]

3 мая в 06:06:31 ЛМВ.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1028.asp

Arianespace receives the second Vega for launch from French Guiana

April 9, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02

The next Vega to be launched from French Guiana has been delivered to Arianespace, bringing the mission campaign into its final phase for a May 2 liftoff at the Spaceport.

The Vega's handover by launch vehicle industrial prime contractor ELV SpA. follows the well-established preparation process flow that has been utilized for years in Arianespace missions – with responsibility now given to Arianespace for payload integration, final launcher checkout, countdown, launch and satellite deployment.

"By using the same mission campaign procedures as proven for our workhorse Ariane, Vega has become a true member of Arianespace's launcher family – joining Ariane 5 and Soyuz in side-by-side operations at the Spaceport," explained Louis Laurent, the Senior Vice President – Programs.

This will be Vega's first mission since the lightweight vehicle's qualification in February 2012.  Demonstrating the launcher's flexibility, its upcoming flight will carry three passengers: the 160-kg. Proba-V spacecraft for the European Space Agency; VNREDSat-1, a 120-kg. satellite for Vietnam; and the 1.3-kg. ESTCube-1 Estonian student nanosatellite.

The May 2 launch configuration places VNREDSat-1 in the lower portion of the payload "stack," positioned inside a dispenser called VESPA.  ESTCube-1 also is included inside VESPA, with its installation on a flat plate interface.    Located atop the VESPA dispenser is Proba-V, which is to be released first during Vega's in-flight deployment sequence.

After its launch by Vega, VNREDSat-1 will support the Vietnamese government's initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing the country's natural resource management.  The spacecraft was built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

Proba-V was produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium for the European Space Agency and is to monitor global vegetation growth.  The satellite is equipped with a newer version of the Vegetation imaging instrument that previously was flown on the Spot series of Earth observation satellites – which also were orbited by Arianespace.

Vega's upcoming launch is part of multiple missions in the European Space Agency's VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program, which is to demonstrate the launch system's capabilities in orbiting small- to medium-sized satellites.  Vega was developed in a European program led by Italy's ASI space agency and industrial prime contractor ELV SpA.

The May 2 mission is designated Flight VV02 in Arianespace's numbering system, with the first "V" representing the French word for flight ("vol"), and the second letter referring to Vega.


Proba-V is readied to be integrated in the payload "stack" for Vega's second launch from the Spaceport in French Guiana, which also will orbit the VNREDSat-1 and the ESTCube-1 satellites.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1030.asp

Payload integration is underway for Vega's second mission from the Spaceport

April 12, 2013 – Vega Flight VV02

The multi-satellite payload "stack" for Vega's upcoming flight from French Guiana is now taking shape as the Arianespace-managed integration process advances at the Spaceport.

This activity began in the Spaceport's S5 clean room facility with installation of Estonia's ESTCube-1 student nanosatellite on a flat mounting surface called the P2 Plate – which serves as the lower interface in the Vega's payload stack.  The small cube-shaped satellite and its dispenser were integrated using a bracket that was mounted to the P2 Plate.

The next step was the placement of Vietnam's VNREDSat-1 with its interface adapter on the P2 Plate, joining ESTCube-1.  

Both satellites are located in the payload stack's lower position, and will ride inside a larger dispenser system called VESPA.  Completing the payload arrangement will be installation of the mission's third satellite – Proba-V – which is to ride atop the VESPA dispenser.

Proba-V will have a mass at liftoff of 160-kg., and is to monitor global vegetation growth.  Produced by prime contractor QinetiQ Space Belgium for the European Space Agency, the satellite is equipped with a newer version of the Vegetation imaging instrument that previously operated on the Spot series of Earth observation satellites – which also were orbited by Arianespace.

VNREDSat-1 is to support the Vietnamese government's initiative to create an infrastructure enabling better studies of climate change effects, improving predictions for natural disasters and optimizing the country's natural resource management.  Weighing 120 kg. for liftoff, it was built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

The 1.3-kg. ESTCube-1 cubesat was designed to test electric solar wind sail technologies, as well as help establish an Estonian infrastructure for future space projects. It was built by a collaboration of students from Tartu University, Estonian Aviation Academy, Tallinn University of Technology and University of Life Sciences – and was developed in conjunction with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Space Center (DLR).

Vega's upcoming mission – designated Flight VV02 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system – is scheduled for liftoff from the Spaceport on May 2.  This will be the second launch for Arianespace's new lightweight vehicle and is being conducted in conjunction with the European Space Agency's VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program.


The ESTCube-1 nanosatellite is shown during installation on the P2 Plate of Vega's payload "stack".


It subsequently was joined on the P2 Plate by VNREDSat-1 (photo at right), completing the lower component of this upcoming mission's payload arrangement.

[Salo]

http://armstass.su/?page=article&aid=116962&cid=25

В Гвианский космический центр доставлена легкая ракета- носитель "Вега", которая будет запущена 2 мая

ПАРИЖ, 10 апреля. (АРМС-ТАСС). В Гвианский космический центр доставлена легкая ракета-носитель "Вега", которая будет запущена 2 мая. После доставки ракеты на космодроме Куру начались операции по ее подготовке к запуску.

Как сообщили в компании "Арианспейс", запуск 2 мая будет первым запуском "Веги" с полезной нагрузкой и имеет обозначение VV02. Впервые эта ракета парименялась в квалификационном запуске в феврале 2012 года. В отсеке полезной нагрузки "Веги" будут установлены три космических аппарата: 160-килограммовый спутник Proba-V Европейского космического агентства (ЕКА), 120-килограммовый спутник VNREDSat-1 для Вьетнама и эстонский студенческий наноспутник ESTCube-1 массой 1,3 кг.

Легкая ракета-носитель "Вега" дополнит парк ракет- носителей компании "Арианспейс", которая для выведения космических аппаратов на околоземные орбиты в настоящее время применяет тяжелые ракеты "Ариан-5" и средние ракеты "Союз".