The first commercial launch of the Vega-C rocket failed, losing two satellites

CTOnews.com, December 21, Beijing time this morning, the Vega-C solid rocket launched two Airbus Aerospace Pleiades remote sensing satellites from the French Guiana launch site. the first stage of the rocket worked normally after take-off, but there was a major failure in the ignition of the secondary engine shortly after its take-off, and the rocket deviated from its orbit.

The CEO of Ariana said that the loss of pressure in the rocket two-stage engine led to a lack of thrust and the launch mission failed. It is reported that this is the first commercial launch of Vega-C solid rocket.

The rocket, named Vega launch vehicle 22 (VV22), is the second flight of the Vega rocket this year and the fifth mission of Ariana Aerospace in 2022. The VV22 was originally scheduled for launch in November 2022, but a component of the composite material in the middle and upper part of the payload fairing was delayed due to the need to replace it.

CTOnews.com learned that the ESA started the development of the Vega carrier rocket in 2003, with its first flight in 2012, and launched the development of Vega-C in 2014, with the participation of Italy, France and other 13 countries. According to reports, the Vega-C rocket belongs to a four-stage rocket, in which the first three stages use solid fuel and the fourth stage uses liquid fuel, which can be ignited many times. With a total length of 34.8m and a launch weight of 210t, the rocket can send a payload of about 2200 kg into a polar orbit 700km above the ground, about 800kg more than the Vega payload. Compared with the Vega rocket, the Vega-C rocket has the characteristics of higher performance, larger payload and stronger competitiveness.

Unlike the mission, which was operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) in July, the Vega-C rocket VV21 successfully made its maiden flight, marking a "new era" for European rocket launch.