The Vega rocket, Europe’s smallest launcher, put five satellites into orbit on the night of Monday 16 to Tuesday 17 August. “More than ever, Vega is positioning itself as a pillar of Europe’s independent access to space”Stefan Israel, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace commented.
The rocket lifted off from the Kourou Space Center, Guyana, at 10:47 p.m. (3:47 a.m. KST), on a mission that was to last about two hours.
Just under an hour after liftoff, the Pléiades Neo 4 satellite was put into orbit at an altitude of 625 kilometers. This high-resolution optical satellite, weighing just under a ton, was manufactured by Airbus Defense and Space Intelligence, which will operate it.
Our main passenger class #PléiadesNeo has been confirmed! 🛰️ We will be proud to launch your brothers with #VegaC! … https://t.co/YYaPFFRIrb
This cutting edge piece of equipment is the second of four satellites in the constellation Pleiades Neo – the first has been in orbit since April 28. With unparalleled accuracy, it should allow for an accuracy of 30 cm for universal coverage of the ground. In addition to this accuracy, the constellation should provide increased interaction that can be reduced to half an hour in the event of an emergency, which opens up possibilities, especially in the field of geolocation and mapping applications.
Four nanosatellites
The next satellites in the series will be launched by the future Vega C, starting in 2022. Vega has also put four nanosatellites into orbit. Three of them will be used by the European Space Agency: Ledsat for optical tracking of satellites in low orbit; Radcube for space weather measurements; Sunstorm to monitor X-rays emitted during solar flares. The fourth, BRO-4, is for French startup Unseenlabs. It is part of the BRO constellation of satellites dedicated to monitoring maritime traffic based on the electromagnetic signature of ships.
Separation of our four other passengers has been confirmed! #VV19 https://t.co/MYDqXk3Jfy
This is the second launch of the Vega missile since the beginning of the year for Arianespace and the nineteenth since the launcher’s first flight, in 2012. It is also the third launch of the year at Kourou, fifteen days after the launch of Ariane 5.
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