Vega > Overview
The Arianespace commercial launcher family will grow with the addition of Vega, a new vehicle scheduled to enter operation in 2012 for flights with small- to medium-sized satellite payloads.
This European four-stage launcher is tailored to carry the growing number of small scientific spacecraft and other lighter-weight payloads under development or planned worldwide.
Vega's target payload lift capability is 1,500 kg. on missions to a 700-km. circular orbit.
With a height of 30 meters, Vega will be operated by Arianespace from the Spaceport’s ZLV launch facility in French Guiana. This was the launch site for the original Ariane 1 and Ariane 3 vehicles, and it has been updated and adapted where needed to meet the operational requirements of this new lightweight vehicle.
Vega will have an essential role within the family of European launchers, joining Ariane 5 (which is optimized for large satellites on missions to geostationary transfer orbit, and low-Earth orbits with very heavy payloads), and Soyuz (tailored for medium weight payloads for low-Earth orbit and certain smaller GTO spacecraft).
A dedicated Arianespace team
An Arianespace team fully dedicated to Vega activity was created by the company in early 2003, and operations of the vehicle will be handled by the launch teams that support Ariane 5 as well as Soyuz – which joined the company’s launcher family at the Spaceport in 2011.
Vega's first stage is powered by the P80 advanced solid propellant motor. This stage features a novel filament-wound casing structure – utilizing new-generation, high-quality production techniques.
The second and third stages (designated Zefiro 23 and Zefiro 9, respectively) also use solid propellant motors, and the launcher is completed by the bi-propellant liquid upper stage (called AVUM – Attitude and Vernier Upper Module). Topping off the vehicle is its upper composite, consisting of the mission’s satellite passengers and protective payload fairing. The typical liftoff mass of Vega will be 139 metric tons.
Vega's initial qualification flight in 2012 is expected to be followed by launches at an average rate of 1-2 missions per year.
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