Independent Inquiry Commission Appointed in VV22 Mission Failure

Arianespace announced yesterday that the VV22 mission carrying Pléiades Neo 5 & 6 satellites failed to reach orbit, resulting in the loss of the satellites.

The Vega C launch vehicle lifted off as scheduled on December 20, 2022 at 10:47 pm (local time in French Guiana). The lift-off, the mission and the separation of the first stage (P120C) were nominal. Following the nominal ignition of the second stage’s (Zefiro 40) engine around 144 seconds after lift-off, a decrease in the pressure was observed leading to the premature end of the mission. Under standard procedure, the order of destruction of the launcher was given by CNES, the launch safety authority; no damage to persons or property occurred.

VV22 Mission Failure Commission will Analyze the Incident before Vega C Returns to Flight

Arianespace and the European Space Agency (ESA) immediately decided to appoint an independent inquiry commission. This commission is tasked with analyzing the reasons for the failure and defining the measures fulfilling all requisite safety and reliability conditions to allow the resumption of Vega C flights. Composed of independent experts, the commission will work with Avio, Vega C launch system prime contractor.

The inquiry commission into the VV22 mission failure will be co-chaired by the Inspector General of ESA and the Chief Technical Officer of Arianespace. More information will be shared as soon as the Commission will have progressed in its investigations.

Pléiades Neo 5 and 6, fully funded and manufactured by its operator Airbus, were intended to be the two final satellites of the Pléiades Neo constellation. Built using the latest Airbus’ innovations and technological developments, the constellation allows the imaging of any point of the globe, several times per day, at 30 cm resolution. Highly agile and reactive, they can be tasked up to 15 minutes before acquisition, and send the images back to Earth within the following hour.

The Vega C launcher had been upgraded with more powerful first and second stage solid rocket motors, bigger AVUM tanks and with a larger fairing that significantly increase payload mass.

(Source: Arienespace news release. Images from file)