Today, at 04:53 Kyiv time, the Vega launch vehicle was launched from the Kourou cosmodrome (French Guiana). This is the first launch in 2020 after the emergency (which took place in July last year) and the sixteenth under the Arianespace program. Now, all systems have worked under normal condition, the launch vehicle has placed 53 satellites from 15 to 150 kg with a total weight of 830 kg. The mission was attended by 21 customers from 13 countries.
Forty minutes after the start, four small satellites separated, followed by about 52 minutes after the start, three more satellites set out on an independent journey. The remaining 46 satellites began to fly to their target orbits within two and a half minutes, starting with the 102nd minute of the launch vehicle’s flight.
The spacecraft will perform a variety of tasks, including Earth observation, telecommunications, scientific measurements, technology testing, and educational projects.
YUZHMASH produces a block of RD-843 propulsion engines of the fourth stage of the European Vega launch vehicle.
The video of the start:
