Vega flight VV18

Vega flight VV18 was the 18th launch of the Vega rocket.[1]

Vega flight VV18
CNES CSG poster artwork
Vega launch
Launch29 April 2021,
01:50 UTC[1][2]
OperatorArianespace
PadELV
Payload
  • Pléiades Neo 3
  • NorSat-3
  • Bravo
  • 2 Lemur-2
  • ELO Alpha
OutcomeSuccess
Vega launches

Payload

The main payload was the Pléiades Neo 3 satellite, complemented by 5 auxiliary payloads: NorSat-3, Bravo, 2 Lemur-2, and ELO Alpha. With their adapters and dispensers, the total payload mass was approximately 1,278 kilograms (2,818 lb).[1]

Pléiades Neo 3

Pléiades Neo 3, with a launch mass of about 920 kg (2,030 lb) and a design lifetime of 8 to 10 years, was in the upper position. It was injected 54 minutes and 29 secondes after launch into its target sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 628 km (semi-major axis of about 7006 km) and mean local time of the descending node approximately equal to 10:30. Pléiades Neo 3 is Airbus's 131st satellite launched by Arianespace.[1]

5 auxiliary passengers

NorSat-3, Bravo, the 2 Lemur-2, and ELO Alpha, were in the lower position and were separated from the launcher 1 hour, 41 minutes and 52 secondes after launch into their sun-synchronous orbits at an altitude of approximately 613 km and mean local time of the descending node also approximately equal to 10:30.[1]

Flight

The flight was successfully launched from the ELV launch pad in Kourou, Centre Spatial Guyanais on 29 April 2021.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Vega flight VV18 launch kit" (PDF). arianespace.com. Arianespace. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  2. "Arianespace's 18th Vega mission to orbit Earth observation and scientific satellites". arianespace.com. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  3. "18th Vega mission marks Arianespace's second successful launch in 72 hours". Arianespace. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
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