VV23 Successfully Launches Multiple Satellites
VV23 Successfully Launches Multiple Satellites
THEOS-2 and FORMOSAT-7R TRITON Among the Passengers
Arianespace’s Vega mission successfully lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana Friday, carrying the optical observation satellite THEOS-2, the weather satellite FORMOSAT-7R TRITON, and ten auxiliary passengers.
"By delivering multiple satellites to orbit, Vega again has demonstrated its unique versatility."
Stéphane Israël, Arianespace
After liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport, the Vega launcher flew powered by the first three stages for a little over six minutes before the separation of the upper stage from the third stage, ZEFIRO-9. The AVUM upper stage ignited twice before releasing simultaneously the two main satellites at an altitude of 601 km (≈ 375 miles). Following two other ignitions of the AVUM, the ten cubesats composing the auxiliary payload all successfully separated, thus marking the end of mission VV23, one hour, 43 minutes and 58 seconds after liftoff. A fifth and last AVUM ignition deorbited the launcher.
”Congratulations to Arianespace team and their partners, amongst them Avio, ESA and CNES, for this successful Vega launch,” said Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, after the separation of the last satellite. “By delivering multiple satellites to orbit, Vega again has demonstrated its unique versatility. I wish to thank our customers, Airbus Defence and Space for Thailand, Taiwan Space Agency, and the operators and sponsors of the cubesats, amongst them the European Commission, for their trust.”
”We are very happy about the success of the mission, said Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio SpA. The joint work of Avio, Arianespace and ESA teams has allowed us to leverage the Vega launcher in order to minimize schedule changes for customers, demonstrating resilience and commitment.”
With this launch, Vega successfully orbited:
THEOS-2 (THailand Earth Observation System-2), a very-high-resolution Earth observation optical satellite, provided by Airbus Defence and Space to support the Kingdom of Thailand’s key development priorities.
FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON, an experimental satellite designed and manufactured by TASA (Taiwan Space Agency). FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON plays two roles: it is both a weather satellite and a scientific satellite.
Regarding the cubesats for institutional missions and the European Commission, all separation commands were properly executed; the confirmation of the separation was acquired for 8 satellites; the separation of the last 2 cubesats is still to be confirmed.
As prime contractor for the Vega, in charge of development and production, AVIO Spa (Colleferro, Italy) delivers a flightworthy launcher on the launch pad to Arianespace, which sells and operates the launcher from the Guiana Space Center (CSG). During the launch campaigns, Arianespace works closely with CNES, the French space agency and the launch range authority at the European Spaceport in Kourou, who is notably looking after the satellite preparation facilities.