Vega (ESA)

Vega is a planned expendable launch system developed jointly by the Italian Space Agency and the European Space Agency since 1998, with the first launch planned for 2006. It is designed to launch small payloads cheaply: 300 to 2000 kg satellites for scientific and Earth observation missions to polar and low earth orbits. It is named after the star Vega. It is a single body launcher with three solid rocket stages, the P80 first stage, the Zefiro23 second stage, the Zefiro9 third stage, and a liquid rocket upper module called AVUM. The technology developed for the P80 program shall also be used for future Ariane developments. Italy is the leading contributor to the Vega programme with 65%, other participants being France (12.43%), Belgium (5.63%), Spain (5%), The Netherlands (3.5%), Switzerland (1.34%) and Sweden (0.8%). Belgium, France, Italy and The Netherlands also contribute to the P80 programme. Download high resolution version (2480x4961, 537 KB)Vega launcher © ESA File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (2480x4961, 537 KB)Vega launcher © ESA File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... An expendable launch system is a single-use launch vehicle usually used to launch a payload into space. ... The European Space Agency (ESA), established in 1975, is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to exploration of space with currently 16 member states. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A satellite is an object that orbits another object (known as its primary). ... Earth observation satellites are satellites specifically designed to observe Earth from orbit, similar to reconnaissance satellites but intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, map making etc. ... A satellite in a polar orbit passes above or nearly above both poles of the planet (or other celestial body) on each revolution. ... A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ... Vega (α Lyr / α Lyrae / Alpha Lyrae) is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, and the fifth brightest star in the sky. ... The Space Shuttle Columbia is initially launched using solid-fuel boosters Solid rockets are rockets with a motor that uses solid propellants (fuel/oxidizer). ... A liquid rocket engine has propellant and oxidiser in liquid form, as opposed to a solid rocket or hybrid rocket. ... The Ariane Family The name Ariane refers to a series of a civilian European expendable launch vehicles for space launch use. ...

The reference VEGA mission is a polar orbit bringing a spacecraft of 1,500 kilograms to an altitude of 700 kilometers.

External link

• Vega launcher, European Space Agency.
• First stone for Vega at Europe's Spaceport
• Listening to Vega
• Vega brochure