The Arianespace commercial launcher family was expanded in 2012 with the addition of Vega, a new-generation vehicle for flights with small- to medium-sized satellite payloads. This four-stage launcher – a European Space Agency (ESA) program – is tailored to carry the growing number of small scientific spacecraft and other lighter-weight payloads under development or planned worldwide. Its target payload lift capability is 1,500 kg. on missions to a 700-km. circular orbit. To meet the bourgeoning small satellite market for institutional and commercial needs, Arianespace offers shared payload opportunities on Vega with the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS). This concept – involving multiple small satellites from 1 kg. to 500 kg. being flown together with the objective of sharing the launch cost – was developed with the support of ESA and Vega prime contractor Avio. The satellite dispenser is an ESA product developed by Avio under ESA leadership, and it is produced by the Czech company, SAB Aerospace s.r.o. Satellite integration can be performed for the first time in Europe (at the Czech Republic).
The Arianespace commercial launcher family was expanded in 2012 with the addition of Vega, a new-generation vehicle for flights with small- to medium-sized satellite payloads. This four-stage launcher – a European Space Agency (ESA) program – is tailored to carry the growing number of small scientific spacecraft and other lighter-weight payloads under development or planned worldwide. Its target payload lift capability is 1,500 kg. on missions to a 700-km. circular orbit. To meet the bourgeoning small satellite market for institutional and commercial needs, Arianespace offers shared payload opportunities on Vega with the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS). This concept – involving multiple small satellites from 1 kg. to 500 kg. being flown together with the objective of sharing the launch cost – was developed with the support of ESA and Vega prime contractor Avio. The satellite dispenser is an ESA product developed by Avio under ESA leadership, and it is produced by the Czech company, SAB Aerospace s.r.o. Satellite integration can be performed for the first time in Europe (at the Czech Republic).
The Vega launcher program – tailored to carry the growing number of small scientific spacecraft and other lighter-weight payloads – is led by industrial prime contractor Avio.
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Avio | Italy |
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CRISA | Spain |
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Dutch Space | Netherlands |
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EADS CASA | Spain |
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Europropulsion | France |
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Galileo Avionica | Italy |
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INSNEC | France |
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KB Yuzhnove | Ukraine |
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Oerlikon Contraves Italia (O.C.I) | Italy |
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RUAG Space | Switzerland |
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S.A.B.C.A | Belgium |
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SAFT | France |
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Stork Product Engineering | Netherlands |
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SNECMA Propulsion Solid | France |
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Thales | France |
The AVUM (Attitude & Vernier Upper Module) has a bipropellant main propulsion system to provide orbital injection, and a monopropellant propulsion system for roll and attitude control.
It is designed to inject different payloads into different orbits, and ensures the fine pointing of satellites prior to separation. At the end of the mission, it is deorbited under safe conditions to limit the amount of orbital debris.
The AVUM contains about 577 kg. of liquid propellant (UDMH/NTO), distributed in four tanks. It is powered by an engine derived from the re-ignitable RD-869, providing 2.45 kN of thrust. It also contains 38.6 kg. of hydrazine to supply two sets of three monopropellant thrusters that control roll and attitude.
The Vega’s second and third stages both use Zefiro solid rocket motors. These stages, each 1.9 meters in diameter, comprise a filament-wound carbon-epoxy case, with low-density EPDM insulation and a nozzle with flex-joints equipped with electromechanical actuators to direct the thrust.
The third stage Zefiro 9 is 4.12 meters long and is loaded with 10,567 kg. of solid propellant HTPB 1912, providing maximum vacuum thrust of 317 kN. Although it is the smallest solid rocket motor on Vega, it offers the longest burn time, of approximately 120 seconds.
The Vega’s second and third stages both use Zefiro solid rocket motors. These stages, each 1.9 meters in diameter, comprise a filament-wound carbon-epoxy case, with low-density EPDM insulation and a nozzle with flex-joints equipped with electromechanical actuators to direct the thrust.
The second stage Zefiro 23 is 8.39 meters long, and is loaded with 23,814 kg. of solid propellant HTPB 1912, providing maximum vacuum thrust of 1,120 kN. It operates for approximately 78 seconds.
Vega’s P80 first stage is powered by a large single-piece solid rocket motor (SRM) containing 87,710 kg. of the HTPB 1912 solid propellant. This solid rocket motor delivers maximum vacuum thrust of 3,015 kN and burns for approximately 113 seconds prior to being jettisoned at an altitude of about 58 km.
The P80 uses a filament-wound carbon-epoxy case. It has the same diameter (3 meters) as the solid boosters used on Ariane 5, and its overall length (11.2 meters) is similar to one of the solid booster’s longest segments.
