Vega launch services for small satellite programs
- Paper number
IAC-12,D2,2,7,x14677
- Author
Mrs. Caroline ARNOUX, Arianespace, France
- Year
2012
- Abstract
On the 13 February 2012, the first Vega, the new light European Launch Vehicle, was successfully launched. Vega is now ready to provide adequate launch opportunities for medium/small payloads to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Thanks to the success of this Qualification Flight, Arianespace now operates a complete family of launch systems, with Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega, addressing the entire satellites launch service market. This paper first addresses the major role to be played by Vega in ensuring an affordable access to space for a wide range of LEO missions, keeping in mind that the relevant medium/small spacecraft can nowadays achieve complete ambitious missions and should therefore be offered dedicated services. The Vega short term perspectives and more globally the Vega market are presented. The flexibility of the Vehicle, fitted to cover a wide range of missions, is also demonstrated. Finally, the Arianespace management of the Vega operations in synergy with Ariane 5 and Soyuz is presented. In particular, a consistent and standard approach for the three launch systems will be implemented, consolidating high quality and efficiency levels and thus, allowing full maturity from the initial operational Vega launches.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)