On its 11th launch of the year, and sixth flight overall of the Vega light launcher from the Guiana Space Center, Arianespace will orbit the LISA Pathfinder technology demonstrator for the European Space Agency (ESA). This is Arianespace’s seventh launch of the year overall for European Governments, this time focusing on space research and science. It once again reflects the company’s assigned mission of ensuring independent access to space for Europe.
3 for 3 for Vega in 2015: Arianespace and ELV/AVIO, a successful partnership
Arianespace’s third launch of the year on Vega, marks the operational ramp-up of this light launcher, as well as its ability to sustain its nominal annual launch rate.
The Vega development phase (VERTA) is concluded with this sixth flight, because it has performed the full range of missions: into a ballistic trajectory (IXV); a low Sun-synchronous orbit/SSO (Sentinel 2A); and a transfer orbit to the L1 Lagrange point (LISA Pathfinder).
The Vega launcher program is now fully operational, and Arianespace is gearing up for the future, which includes the active development of the Vega C project.