Vega-C
ESA’s Vega-C succeeds Vega, to deliver increased performance, greater payload volume and improved competitiveness. Operating from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, this rocket extends Europe’s autonomy in space by supporting new mission possibilities, including return-to-Earth operations with ESA's reusable Space Rider reentry vehicle. Vega-C features major enhancements from Vega: two new solid propulsion stages, an uprated upper stage and new fairing, and new ground infrastructure.
Vega-C is a single body rocket nearly 35 m high with a mass at liftoff of 210 tonnes. It is able to place about 2300 kg in a reference 700 km-polar orbit. Using a new range of payload carriers, Vega-C will be able to accommodate a mix of cargo shapes and sizes, ranging from CubeSats as small as one kilogram up to a single large payload.
Ongoing developments will extend Vega-C capabilities to include in-orbit operations and return missions using the in-development Space Rider.
Participating States in the Vega-C programme are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Vega-C elements
Vega-C is based on the Vega launch vehicle. As with Vega, its main elements are three solid propellant stages, an upper fourth stage powered by a reignitable liquid-propellant engine and a payload fairing.
The fairing at the top of Vega-C is 3.3 m in diameter and over 9 m tall, doubling the payload volume available with Vega. Made of carbon fibre-polymer composite, this structure protects satellites from the thermal, acoustic, and aerodynamic stresses of liftoff and on the ascent through Earth's atmosphere.
The upper stage AVUM+, or Attitude Vernier Upper Module, ensures attitude control and precise orbital positioning and is designed for extended stays in space. AVUM+ has a propellant mass of 740 kg and the main engine will provide an average thrust of 2.42 kN. The reignition capability of the AVUM+ allows Vega-C to reach a range of orbits to deliver multiple payloads on a single mission. Thrusters may burn several times to reach all required orbits. After separation of all payloads, a final boost may deorbit the upper stage to minimise debris left in orbit.
The third stage, Zefiro-9, is taken from Vega and burns 10 t of solid propellant.
The new Zefiro-40 second stage contains 36.2 t of solid propellant, providing an average thrust of 1304 kN.
Vega-C's P120C first stage replaces Vega’s smaller P80 to provide a significant increase in thrust at liftoff. P120C’s monolithic carbon fibre structure weighs about 8 t and carries 143.6 t of solid propellant. During its two-minute burn this motor delivers an average thrust of 4,500 kN – equivalent to the output of 15 modern airliner engines.
And, the P120C will do double service, with either two or four of these solid fuel motors acting as strap-on boosters for ESA’s Ariane 6 launch vehicle.
Vega-C mission capabilities
Vega-C’s range of adapters make this a very flexible launch vehicle.
Routine dedicated rideshares to space for small satellites.
The Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) dispenser will allow dedicated rideshares to space. The SSMS can be configured to accommodate any combination of 1 kg CubeSats up to 400 kg mini satellites: a main large satellite with smaller companions, multiple small satellites or dozens of CubeSats.
Dual passengers
The Vespa-C payload adapter, used for dual passengers with a mass above 400 kg, takes advantage of the larger volume available in the Vega-C fairing.
Single large passenger
Vampire is the baseline adapter for single large payloads.
Return missions
The reusable Space Rider system will be launched on Vega-C and use the AVUM+ upper stage capabilities to provide in-orbit operations for payload return capability.
Orbital transfer capability
Developments are under way for a Vega Electrical Nudge Upper Stage, Venus, to move payloads between orbits, for example for constellation deployment, lunar missions or in-orbit servicing.
Vega-E
Work is advancing on an innovative upper stage, to combine the functions of Vega-C’s Zefiro-9 and AVUM+ stages. Reducing the total stage count to three will reduce the complexity of the launch system and reduce launch service costs – while increasing overall performance. The key to this Vega-E variant will be the 10-t class M10 engine, which burns more environmentally sustainable propellants – cryogenic liquid oxygen and methane – and makes extensive use of additive layer manufacturing technologies – so-called 3D printing – to speed up manufacturing and reduce waste and production costs.
Launch zone
Vega-C operates from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
The Vega launch complex has been modified to accommodate the new launch system. The mobile gantry now has a more powerful travelling crane and new cantilever reinforcements, platform shutters, mast sector and pallets; modified fluid services have been installed on the launch pad.
Roles and responsibilities
ESA owns the Vega-C programme, working with Avio as prime contractor and design authority. Arianespace is responsible for commercial exploitation of the launch system.
The P120C solid rocket motor used by both Ariane 6 and Vega-C is co-developed by ArianeGroup and Avio, through their 50/50 joint venture Europropulsion.
France’s space agency, CNES, maintains the Vega-C launch facilities at Europe’s Spaceport.
Follow ESA and Vega-C
Flickr: Vega-C
Twitter: @esa, @esa_transport
#VegaC #ESA
YouTube: esa
ESA Web TV: esawebtv.esa.int
