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Forum: ESA - JAXA - China - International
Topic: ESA's Vega small expendable launch vehicle

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Message to Edit: HTML is ON UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend	Originally posted by Robert Pearlman on 02-12-2012 05:59 PM <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="+0">[b]ESA inaugurates Vega, its new small launch vehicle[/b]</font> The European Space Agency (ESA) is introducing a new launch vehicle for the third time in its history. After Ariane 1 in 1979, Ariane 5 in 1996, 2012 is the year of Vega. Vega is designed to complement the family of European launchers already available from French Guiana with the Ariane 5 heavy-lift launch system and the Soyuz medium-class launcher. <center><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/esa_vega01.jpg" WIDTH="400" HEIGHT="300"></center> [URL=http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Vega/SEMNLCWWVUG_0.html]Vega[/URL] is a three-stage solid-propellant vehicle with a liquid-propellant maneuverable injection module sized primarily to loft payloads of up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lbs) into polar low-Earth orbits at an altitude of 700 km (435 miles). Its main objective is to provide Europe with a safe, reliable, competitive and efficient capacity for scientific and Earth observation payloads. Vega will accommodate a wide range of missions — from 300 kg to 2500 kg (660 lbs to 5500 lbs) — into a wide variety of orbits, from equatorial to Sun-synchronous. It can also carry single or multiple payloads depending on mission requirements. Following a qualification flight, Vega operations will be handed over to Arianespace, which will also be in charge of selling Vega on the international launch market. ESA will be an early customer of Arianespace's new service through a commitment for five launches under the VERTA Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment programme. An initial rate of two launches per year is planned following the qualification flight.</BLOCKQUOTE>
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