Thu, Feb 16, 2012
Monday Success Of Vega Completes Suite Of Capabilities
Monday morning saw the successful launch at 1000Z of the first
Vega by the European Space Agency (ESA), putting two scientific
satellites and seven picosatellites into orbit. Arianespace now
claims the largest range of commercial launch services.
The new Vega launcher has been designed to launch payloads of up
to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb.) at an altitude of 700 km (435 miles).
Europe now has a new vehicle to launch all its scientific and
institutional missions. After the success of this maiden launch,
Arianespace will be in charge of the commercialization and
exploitation of Vega.
With Ariane 5, Soyuz, and now Vega, all of which are operated
from the Guiana Space Center, Arianespace says it is the only
launch service and solutions company that can place any payload
into any orbit: telecommunications satellites, scientific or Earth
observation satellites, constellations and missions to the
International Space Station.
Following the successful Vega launch, Jean-Yves Le Gall,
Chairman and CEO of Arianespace commented, "Bravo Europe!
Congratulations to the European Space Agency, to the Italian Space
Agency, to the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales and to all our
industrials partners. This success comes after 9 years of
cooperative development. Well done Europe!"
Even before this first launch Arianespace and ESA had signed the
first commercial launch service and solutions contract, for the
European Union launch of Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 spacecraft on
Vega.
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