Vega-C flight VV22
Vega launch
Launch21 December 2022,
01:47:31 UTC[1]
OperatorArianespace
PadKourou, ELV
Payload
  • Pléiades Neo 5
  • Pléiades Neo 6
OutcomeFailure
Vega launches

Vega C flight VV22 was the 22nd launch of the Vega rocket.[2] The rocket failed after launch and the mission was lost.[3]

Payload

The payload was composed of the Pléiades Neo 5 and 6 satellites, which would have been the final satellites of France's Pléiades Neo constellation. With their adapters and dispensers, the total payload mass was approximately 1,977 kilograms. They were Airbus' 138th and 139th satellites launched by Arianespace respectively.[2]

Flight

The flight was launched from the ELV launch pad in Kourou, Centre Spatial Guyanais.[1][2]

Launch failure

The flight was planned to deploy the satellites into two very slightly different Sun-synchronous orbits at roughly 620 km.[2] However, the rocket failed after launch and the mission was lost; it was caused by the deviation of the Zefiro 40 second stage from its intended trajectory following a loss of chamber pressure, resulting in reentry about 917 km (570 mi) north of the launch site over the Atlantic.[3] The problem arose due to erosion of the throat insert procured at KB Pivdenne in Ukraine.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "New targeted launch dates for flights VV22 and VA259". Arianespace (Press release). 25 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Vega flight VV22 launch kit" (PDF). arianespace.com. Arianespace. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  3. 1 2 Clark, Stephen (21 December 2022). "Two Pléiades Neo Earth-imaging satellites lost in failure of Europe's Vega C rocket". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Foust, Jeff (3 March 2023). "Nozzle erosion blamed for Vega C launch failure". SpaceNews. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
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