#launch_vehicle

[phonemantra-blog]

The ship is scheduled to dock with the ISS on December 3 Today, a Soyuz 2.1a rocket with a Progress MS-25 space truck launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The press service of Roscosmos spoke about this. [caption id="attachment_85149" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Progress MS-25 truck[/caption] The launch took place at 12:25 Moscow time from the 31st site of the cosmodrome. As noted in Roscosmos, the launch of the Progress MS-25 into a given orbit, its separation from the third stage of the rocket, and the deployment of the ship’s antennas and solar panels took place as usual. [caption id="attachment_85150" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Progress MS-25 truck[/caption] The Progress MS-25 truck with tangerines and the Future Games trophy went to the ISS The docking of Progress MS-25 to the small research module Poisk of the Russian segment of the International Space Station is scheduled for December 3, at 14:15 Moscow time. The Progress MS-25 will deliver 2,528 kg of cargo to the ISS: 515 kg of fuel for refueling the station, 420 kg of drinking water and 40 kg of nitrogen, as well as 1,553 kg of resource equipment, stowage for scientific experiments, food, medical and sanitary and hygienic products. Among other things, the truck will deliver tangerines, New Year's gifts and a trophy from the Future Games tournament to the astronauts, which is due to return to earth in 2024. [caption id="attachment_85151" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Progress MS-25 truck[/caption] At the station, the ship is waiting for the crew of the 70th long-term expedition - Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub and Konstantin Borisov, NASA astronauts Jasmine Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen and JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.

[spaceexp]

Flight VV15: Mission failure

Arianespace - Vega Flight VV15 Mission poster. 11 July 2019 Arianespace announced today, 11 July, 2019, the failure of Flight VV15 carrying the FalconEye1 satellite. This was the first Vega failure after 14 successful launches in a row since being introduced at the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana in 2012.

VV15 launch pad

The Vega launch vehicle lifted off as scheduled on July 10, 2019 at 10:53 pm (local time in French Guiana). Approximately two minutes after the Vega launcher’s liftoff, shortly after ignition of the second stage (Zefiro 23), a launcher anomaly occurred – leading to the premature end of the mission.

Vega failed launch with FalconEye1

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Arianespace immediately decided to appoint an independent inquiry commission. This commission is tasked with analysing the reasons for the failure and defining the measures needed to ensure the resumption of Vega flights while fulfilling all requisite safety and security conditions. The inquiry commission is co-chaired by the Inspector General of ESA and the Senior Vice President, Technical and Quality of Arianespace. Preparations for the next Ariane 5 launch are continuing at the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's Spaceport. Related links: Vega: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega Arianespace: http://www.arianespace.com/ Image, Video, Text, Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)/Arianespace/SciNews. Greetings, Orbiter.ch Full article

[phonemantra-blog]

"With this launch, SpaceX has completed its 61st launch in 2023, equaling last year's record, and we still have four months left before the end of the year," said SpaceX engineer Zachary Luppen during a livestream. A Falcon 9 rocket with 13 spacecraft for the Space Development Agency (SDA) of the US Space Force was launched on September 2 from the Vandenberg Space Center in California and successfully landed at the spaceport. It was the 13th launch of the first stage of the rocket. SpaceX initially attempted to launch the Tranche 0 mission on August 31 but was delayed due to problems with one of the nine engines on the rocket's first stage. The second attempt took place on September 1 but was canceled 12 minutes before launch due to a valve problem in the ground equipment. Saturday's launch was the second under the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) program, a network of satellites deployed in low Earth orbit to provide military communications, missile warning, and tracking. The first PWSA launch took place in April when a Falcon 9 launched 10 satellites into orbit. SpaceX launched 13 satellites and successfully landed a rocket [caption id="attachment_51020" align="aligncenter" width="780"] SpaceX[/caption] Tranche 0, consisting of 28 satellites, is the demonstration constellation of the PWSA program. Most satellites are designed for communications, but some are designed to detect missiles. It was the 13th launch and landing for this particular first stage, and SpaceX's 260th launch overall. There is no information on when the satellites will start operating, as SpaceX has not provided details about this point. This is not surprising, since such missions related to government contracts and security often take place in conditions of limited information. At the request of the contracting agency, SpaceX did not provide live video images from the Falcon 9 upper stage during launch and ceased broadcasting shortly after the first stage landed.

[phonemantra-blog]

The family includes the light Angara-1.2 missile and the heavy Angara-A5 missile It has become known when flight tests of Russian launch vehicles of the Angara family should be completed. As reported in the presentation of Roscosmos General Director Yuri Borisov, presented during an open lesson at the educational marathon of the Russian Society "Knowledge", flight tests of the Angara-1.2 and Angara-A5 rockets should be completed in 2024. Previously, it was said that full-fledged serial production of these missiles would also start next year. [caption id="attachment_50788" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Angara launch vehicles[/caption] Flight tests of Angara launch vehicles will be completed in 2024 Recall that Angara-1.2 is a Russian two-stage light-class launch vehicle designed to launch a payload of up to 3.5 tons into low Earth orbit. Angara-A5 is a heavy launch vehicle capable of delivering 24 tons of payload into low Earth orbit. “Angara-A5” went on its first test flight from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on December 23, 2014, the flight test program involves six launches, now three more remain to complete the tests.

[spaceexp]

ESA's Aeolus Wind Satellite Launched

ARIANESPACE - Vega Flight VV12 Aeolus Mission poster. 23 August 2018

Image above: Vega lifts off on Arianespace’s fifth mission of 2018 from the Spaceport in French Guiana. Flight VV12 Aeolus. ESA’s Earth Explorer Aeolus satellite has been launched into polar orbit on a Vega rocket. Using revolutionary laser technology, Aeolus will measure winds around the globe and play a key role in our quest to better understand the workings of our atmosphere. Importantly, this novel mission will also improve weather forecasting.

Aeolus liftoff replay

Carrying the 1360 kg Aeolus satellite, the Vega rocket lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST, 18:20 local time) on 22 August. Some 55 minutes later, Vega’s upper stage delivered Aeolus into orbit and contact was established through the Troll ground station in Antarctica at 00:30 CEST on 23 August. Named after Aeolus, who in Greek mythology was appointed ‘keeper of the winds’ by the Gods, this novel mission is the fifth in the family of ESA’s Earth Explorers, which address the most urgent Earth-science questions of our time.

Aeolus satellite

“Aeolus epitomises the essence of an Earth Explorer. It will fill a gap in our knowledge of how the planet functions and demonstrate how cutting-edge technology can be used in space,” said Jan Wörner, ESA Director General. ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Josef Aschbacher, added, “Aeolus carries the first instrument of its kind and uses a completely new approach to measuring the wind from space.

Aeolus reveals all

“Such pioneering technology has meant that it has been a demanding mission to develop, but thanks to all the teams involved we are thrilled that this extraordinary satellite is now in orbit. We look forward to it living up to expectations!” Highlighted by the World Meteorological Organization, the lack of direct global wind measurements is one of the major deficits in the Global Observing System. By filling this gap, Aeolus will give scientists the information they need to understand how wind, pressure, temperature and humidity are interlinked. This new mission will provide insight into how the wind influences the exchange of heat and moisture between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere – important aspects for understanding climate change.

Earth’s winds

Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. The first of its kind, the Aladin instrument includes revolutionary laser technology to generate pulses of ultraviolet light that are beamed down into the atmosphere to profile the world’s winds – a completely new approach to measuring the wind from space. While Aeolus is set to advance science, it will also benefit society. Although weather forecasts have advanced considerably in recent years, Aeolus will provide global wind profiles to improve the accuracy even further. In addition, its data will be used in air-quality models to improve forecasts of dust and other airborne particles that affect public health.

 Profiling the world's winds

The satellite is being controlled from ESA’s European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany. Controllers will spend the next few months carefully checking and calibrating the mission as part of its commissioning phase. Related links: Aeolus: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Aeolus Vega-C: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega-C Europe's Spaceport: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Europe_s_Spaceport Arianespace: http://www.arianespace.com/ CNES: https://cnes.fr/en Airbus Defence and Space: http://www.airbus.com/ Centre Spatial de Liège: http://www.csl.uliege.be/jcms/c_5053/en/home Images, Video, Text, Credits: ESA/Arianespace /ATG medialab. Best regards, Orbiter.ch Full article

[spaceexp]

Vega launches Earth observation satellite for Morocco

ARIANESPACE - Vega Flight VV11 Mission poster. 8 November 2017

Vega lifts off

Arianespace has launched a Vega rocket to deliver an Earth observation satellite into orbit for the Kingdom of Morocco.

Liftoff of Vega’s 11th mission from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana came at 01:42 GMT on 8 November (02:42 CET; 22:42 local time on 7 November).

Arianespace Flight VV11 - MOHAMMED VI - A satellite

With a mass at liftoff of 1110 kg, Mohammed VI-A was manoeuvred into its target Sun-synchronous orbit about 55 minutes into the mission after a series of burns of Vega’s upper stage. Complying with debris regulations to help keep space clean, Vega’s upper stage fired a final time to burn up high in the atmosphere over the ocean.

Mohammed VI-A satellite

Vega is a 30 m-high, four-stage vehicle designed to accommodate small scientific and Earth observation payloads of 300–2500 kg, depending on the orbit. Related links: Vega: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega European launchers: powering Europe into space: http://spaceinvideos.esa.int/Videos/2013/02/European_launchers_powering_Europe_into_space Arianespace: http://www.arianespace.com/ Images, Video, Text, Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace Best regards, Orbiter.ch Full article

[spaceexp]

Galileos set to fly on Ariane 6

ESA - GALILEO Progamme logo. 15 September 2017 Four of the latest set of Galileo navigation satellites will be launched on Ariane 6 rockets – ESA’s first contract to use Europe’s new vehicle. The launches are scheduled between the end of 2020 and mid-2021, using two Ariane 62 rockets – the configuration of Europe’s next-generation launch vehicle that is best suited to haul the two 750 kg navigation satellites into their orbits at 23 222 km altitude. Under development, Ariane 6 is Europe’s newest launcher, designed to extend guaranteed access to space for Europe at a competitive price. It will operate in two configurations, depending on customer needs: Ariane 62 is fitted with two strap-on boosters while Ariane 64 has four.

 Twin-booster Ariane 6

“Ariane 6 is not only in full development, but it will soon be put to use,” notes Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Space Transportation. “This contract is a key step in the upcoming ramp-up phase of Ariane 6.” The Galileos have so far either been launched in pairs by Soyuz from French Guiana or in fours by Ariane 5. A new Ariane 5 flight is scheduled for the end of this year, to add four more satellites to the 18-strong constellation already in orbit. This month saw the arrival of the first elements of the rocket in French Guiana, transported aboard the MN Colibri roll-on/roll-off ship.

Galileo satellites

The contract specifies the decision to use Ariane 62 is subject to the vehicle’s development schedule, with Soyuz available as an alternative. A final choice will be made at the end of 2018, two years before the first launch. Galileo is Europe’s own satellite navigation system, providing an array of positioning, navigation and timing services to Europe and the world. A further eight Galileo ‘Batch 3’ satellites were ordered last June, to supplement the 26 built so far. With 18 satellites now in orbit, Galileo began initial services on 15 December 2016, the first step towards full operations.

Ariane 6

Further launches will continue to build the constellation, which will gradually improve system performance and availability worldwide. The launch contract with Arianespace was signed by Paul Verhoef, ESA’s Director of the Galileo Programme and Navigation-related Activities, and Stéphane Israel, Arianespace’s Chief Executive Officer. ESA signed the contract on behalf of the EU represented by the European Commission – Galileo’s owner. The Commission and ESA have a delegation agreement by which ESA acts as design and procurement agent on behalf of the Commission. Ariane 6: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Ariane_6 Another eight Galileo satellites for Europe: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Navigation/Another_eight_Galileo_satellites_for_Europe Launching Galileo website: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Navigation/The_future_-_Galileo/Launching_Galileo European GNSS Agency: http://www.gsa.europa.eu/ Images. Video, Text, Credits: ESA/David Ducros/GSA. Greetings, Orbiter.ch Full article

[spaceexp]

Vega lofts two satellites on second launch this year

ARIANESPACE - Flight VV10 Mission poster. 2 August 2017 This morning Arianespace launched a Vega rocket carrying two Earth observation satellites for Italy, France and Israel encased in Vega’s lighter protective fairing.

Vega liftoff

Liftoff of Vega’s 10th mission from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana came at 01:58 GMT on 2 August (03:58 CEST; 22:58 local time on 1 August) on a mission lasting 97 minutes to deliver Optsat-3000 and Venμs into their planned orbits. Optsat-3000 will provide Italy’s Ministry of Defense with global high-resolution images. With a mass of 368 kg, it was the first to be released after about 42 minutes. The 264 kg Venμs was released 49 minutes later.

Perfect 10: the lightweight Vega orbits OPTSAT-3000 and Venµs on a milestone success

Venμs – Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro Satellite – sponsored by France and Israel will study vegetation and the environment, and demonstrate a new electrical propulsion system. Optsat-3000 has a design life of seven years and Venμs four and a half years.

Optsat-3000 satellite

Flight VV10 marks the debut of Vega’s new lighter payload fairing that protects the satellites during the ascent to space. It was developed under ESA’s Launchers Exploitation Accompaniment Programme and manufactured by RUAG Space Switzerland with ELV in Italy as prime contractor. The technology was first proved on 28 June on Ariane 5. The new Vega fairing structure features fewer panels and no metallic joints. Different composite material and improved manufacturing have lowered the production cost. A launch pad modification for this flight reduced the acoustic loads – the pressure caused by sound waves on the payloads at liftoff – from the first-stage plume striking the structure.

Venμs – Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro Satellite

The changes exploited a computer model of the acoustic environment at liftoff developed under an ESA��NASA knowledge exchange agreement for launchers. Flight and ground measurements from this flight will help to gauge the improvements. The payload mass for this launch was about 982 kg. The satellites totalled about 672 kg, with payload adapters and carrying structures making up the rest. Related links: Vega rocket: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega Arianespace: http://www.arianespace.com/ ELV SpA: http://www.elv.it/en/ NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/ RUAG Space Switzerland: http://www.ruag.com/space/RUAG_Space_Switzerland Images, Video, Text, Credits: ESA/ARIANESPACE. Best regards, Orbiter.ch Full article

[spaceexp]

ESA and industry collaborate to improve rocket fairings

RUAG logo. 28 August 2017 Rocket fairings are now lighter, faster to produce and less costly thanks to a manufacturing process adopted by RUAG Space in Switzerland through a partnership with ESA.

Protective fairing encases the payload

The fairing protects satellites from the thermal, acoustic and aerodynamic stresses on the ascent to space. The new fairings have already flown on the latest Ariane 5 and Vega missions, and fairings for the future Ariane 6 and Vega‑C vehicles will be produced in the same way. Typically, high performance fibre-polymer composite structures are cured in an autoclave, a large heated container that keeps them under pressure. Autoclaves are expensive and limited in size, so large components are made in segments and then joined together. This constrains the design while increasing weight and the production time. 

Ariane 5 half fairing ready for the oven

ESA and RUAG Space collaborated to establish an out-of-autoclave process where the carbon-fibre shells are cured in an industrial oven instead of an autoclave. This requires less energy and allows the curing of an entire large half-shell in fewer pieces. It reduces cost, saves time and enables production of very large composite panels. Payload fairing shells for Ariane 5 are now made in two panels per half-shell instead of seven. This has reduced the mass of the fairing, which allows a heavier payload to be sent into orbit. Vega shells are made in one panel per half-shell instead of two, so no metallic junctions are needed. Fewer parts allow horizontal and vertical assembly of the closed fairing and the launcher, which is particularly important for Ariane 6. “ESA’s public–private partnerships bring technological advances that keep the European launch systems industry competitive globally,” commented Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA Director of Space Transportation. 

Vega fairings compared

ESA helped to fund development of the fairing through Ariane development and exploitation programmes, as well as through the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme. This involved a commitment to help implement the out-of-autoclave technology on a new production line intended for multi-launcher production. In parallel, RUAG and their industrial partners invested in a new manufacturing site in Emmen, Switzerland, as well as developing the equipment required to produce the payload fairing: oven, mould and inspection systems. RUAG supplies the US with fairings for Atlas rockets and is now setting up a production line in Decatur, USA, using its new manufacturing process to develop new payload fairings, interstage adapters and heatshields for the Atlas and Vulcan rockets. Arianespace, France’s CNES space agency and the launchers’ prime contractors – ArianeGroup and ELV – supported this initiative through engineering activities and technical reviews. This provided transparency to all partners on the new development, ensuring the formal qualification and acceptance of the fairing on the European launchers. Related links: Ariane 5: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Ariane_5 Vega: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega ArianeGroup: https://www.ariane.group/en/ Arianespace: http://www.arianespace.com/ CNES: http://www.cnes.fr/web/CNES-en/7114-home-cnes.php ELV SpA: http://www.elv.it/en/ RUAG Space: http://www.ruag.com/space/Space_Home Images, Text, Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace. Best regards, Orbiter.ch Full article