Inaugural Vega launch a success
Posted: Mon, Feb 13, 2012, 9:50 PM ET (0250 GMT)
The first launch of Europe's new small launch vehicle was a success Monday, placing nine small satellites into orbit. The Vega rocket lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana, at 5:00 am EST (1000 GMT) at the beginning of a three-hour launch window. The four-stage rocket released its payloads into low Earth orbit 55 to 70 minutes later. The largest satellite on this mission was LARES, an Italian satellite designed to measure the warping of spacetime caused by the Earth's rotation. The rocket carried other smaller satellites, mostly cubesats. The launch was the first for the Vega, developed by the European Space Agency to launch smaller satellites more efficiently than the larger Soyuz and Ariane rockets that also launch from Kourou.
The first launch of Europe's new small launch vehicle was a success Monday, placing nine small satellites into orbit. The Vega rocket lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana, at 5:00 am EST (1000 GMT) at the beginning of a three-hour launch window. The four-stage rocket released its payloads into low Earth orbit 55 to 70 minutes later. The largest satellite on this mission was LARES, an Italian satellite designed to measure the warping of spacetime caused by the Earth's rotation. The rocket carried other smaller satellites, mostly cubesats. The launch was the first for the Vega, developed by the European Space Agency to launch smaller satellites more efficiently than the larger Soyuz and Ariane rockets that also launch from Kourou.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
California commission votes against increase in SpaceX Vandenberg launches
Posted: Sun, Aug 17 11:32 AM ET (1532 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, August 29
You Can Now Tweet Using SpaceX's Cellular Starlink, But Only in This Country [Japan]
PC Magazine — 6:50 am ET (1050 GMT) Emergency services turn to Elon Musk's Starlink in western Queensland
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 6:49 am ET (1049 GMT) 2026 Budget Process Has Unique Implications For Space Force
Aviation Week — 6:47 am ET (1047 GMT) Space Force celebrates first Officer Training Course graduation at Peterson Space Force Base
Colorado Springs Gazette — 6:47 am ET (1047 GMT) Startup’s Retractable Solar Arrays Could Aid Orbital Servicing
National Defense Magazine — 6:47 am ET (1047 GMT) |
