Vega has returned to fly, it has brought 6 satellites into orbit

The European launcher Vega has returned to fly, after the anomaly that in November 2020 led to the premature end of the VV17 mission, and brought the French satellite Pléiades Neo 3, built by Airbus Defense and Space, into orbit, plus five microsatellites, between which the Norwegian Norsat 3 and four cubesats for the operators Eutelsat, NanoAvionics / Aurora Insight and Spire, for applications ranging from Earth observation to telecommunications. It was also the second launch in less than 72 hours for Arianespace, the company that manages the European launches.

Vega left in the night from the European base of Kourou (French Guiana) and with its flight VV18 the launcher of the European Space Agency (ESA) designed, developed and built in Italy by Avio, used its special 'dispenser' which allows to bring into orbit several satellites of different sizes, ie the Ssms (Small Spacecraft Mission Service) system tested in flight VV16 of September 2020. The ability to transport groups of satellites into orbit with a main load "increases the versatility of the Vega to compete in the microsatellite market and offer customers more launch opportunities ", Avio noted in a note.

Vega's next flight, the VV19, is expected by the summer, the company adds.

"We are proud of the great teamwork that led to this flight and I would like to thank all the team and our partners for the work done in recent months so that Vega could fly again successfully", comments the CEO of Avio, Giulio Ranzo . "Despite a very hard year, marred by Covid, Avio - continues Ranzo - has shown resilience and tenacity, as also shown by the 2020 results and the closure of long-term contracts for the future Vega C".

In addition to the second launch within 72 hours, for Arianespace that of Vega was also the third in 2021, after the two of Soyuz on 25 March and 26 April from the Russian space base Vostochny. “The successful return to flight of Vega follows the recommendations of the independent commission of inquiry of flight VV17, organized by Arianespace and ESA and implemented by Avio”, notes Arianespace in a note. With ESA funding, Arianespace continues, “the SMS service will soon be integrated by Mls”, that is the Multi Launch Service envisaged on the new European Ariane 6 launcher.

"I congratulate the Arianespace, Esa and Avio teams for the successful return to flight of Vega", said the managing director of Arianespace, Stéphane Israël. "I am particularly proud - he added - of the action of all those who they mobilized to carry out the undertaking of two launches, coming from two different continents, in less than 72 hours ”.