Spain takes part on Vega launcher

The new Vega rocket is one of the last efforts of the ESA to face the needs of having a small, low-cost and versatile launcher to place low-weight satellites on low altitude orbits.

Vega is 30 meters tall, and weights 137 tons, against the 50 meters and almost 800 tons of its older brother, Ariane 5. Furthermore, the fact that its size is reduced, does not imply that it will only launch one satellite per flight. The first flight is scheduled to the 13 of February. Vega will be carrying the following satellites: LARES (from ASI, the Italian Space Agency), the microsatellite ALMASat-1 and six picosatellites (CubeSats, developed by European universities).

Spain's contribution covers a 5.68% of the project (377€ million). The main contractor is ELV SpA.  Vitrociset is the responsible of the ground station. However, seven Spanish companies have taken part of the project: Crisa, EADS CASA Space, GMV, GTD Information Systems, INDRA, RYMSA and SENER.

• Crisa has designed and built the Multi-Function Unit, a 17kg electronic device which covers some of the main electronic functions: sequential electronics, power distribution and computation power.
• EADS CASA Space is author of the design and production of the third stage (AVUM, Attitude Vernier Upper Module). Furthermore, they have given the satellite adapters, which are critically designed, as no error is allowed at this point.
• GMV is responsible of the Guidance and Navigation, participating on the RACS, GNC and RAMS analysis.
• GTD Information Systems has developed the software involved on the launched. They have also built the emergency system, which enables the secure mode on the electronic systems, the fluid management and the rocket itself. 
• INDRA has developed some elements on the subsystem EGSE, whcich allows some demo mode on batteries and electronic tests. INDRA has made a stack of simulators: Pyro simulator, Telemetry simulator, MFU simulator and Upper Composite Simulate Box.
• RYMSA has designed, developed and built the antennae on the VEGA. Every Launcher needs two of these antennae.
• SENER has done the Independent Software Verification and Validation (ISVV), which makes a revision of the software on flight. SENER works as an independent company, which is supposed not to be involved on the development.

UPDATE

Launch date and time confirmed: 13 February, 10:00-11:30 GMT
Live stream here:

Watch live streaming video from eurospaceagency at livestream.com

Via Noticias de la ciencia

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