Vega

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Vega (LARES) [ESA]

Vega is an ESA project for a small, solid-fueled launcher for low earth orbit payloads. It is compatible with payload masses ranging from 300 kg to 2500 kg, depending on the type and altitude of the orbit required by the customers. The benchmark is for 1500 kg into a 700 km-altitude polar orbit.

The first stage was originally a two-segment version of the Ariane-5 booster, but later in the development process a complete new first stage was developed. The second and third stages will be versions of the italian Zefiro motor. A liquid fuel propulsion module will form stage 4, which is powered by a russian RD-869 engine of R-36M2 heritage.

Due to the reignitable 4th stage, Vega is able to place multiple payloads into orbit. In particular, it offers configurations able to handle payloads ranging from a single satellite up to one main satellite plus six microsatellites.

The Vega launch vehicles is launched from the refurbished ELA-1 complex at Kourou.

No:  TNr: Type:        Date:        LS            Payload

none


Planned:

 1    1   Vega         xx.xx.2012   Ko ELA-1      LARES / ALMASat 1 / e-st@r / Goliat / MaSat 1 / PW-Sat 1 / ROBUSTA / UniCubeSat-GG / XaTcobeo

 x    x   Vega         xx.xx.xxxx   Ko ELA-1      ADM-Aeolus
 x    x   Vega         xx.xx.2013   Ko ELA-1  *   IXV
 x    x   Vega         xx.xx.2014   Ko ELA-1      LISA Pathfinder
 x    x   Vega         xx.xx.xxxx   Ko ELA-1      Proba V / ?
 x    x   Vega         xx.xx.xxxx   Ko ELA-1      Sentinel 2B
 x    x   Vega         xx.xx.xxxx   Ko ELA-1      Sentinel 3B

		  
Launch Sites:

Ko = Kourou, ELA-1

* = Suborbital