Current launch statistics 2020
Mission:
Rideshare SSMS PoC - a group launch of micro- and nanosatellites into a sun-synchronous orbit. The launch also marks the return to service of the Vega booster after last year's crash.
Motto:
“53 satellites at a time! We can do this". There is no official motto.
Launch time and place:
September 3, 2020 01:51:00 UTC, Space Center Guiana (CSG), Kourou, French Guiana, Vega Launch Site (SLV)
Booster Rocket:
Vega - European lightweight four-stage single-use launch vehicle, co-developed The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Three solid fuel stages and a fourth on liquid fuel with the possibility of multiple switching.
Payload:
Satellites from 21 customers from 13 countries. 7 microsatellites weighing from 15 to 150 kg. 46 Cubsat nanosatellites weighing from 250 g to 10 kg. The total weight of the removed cargo is 1,360 kg (satellites with a dispenser) Cubsat format from 1/4 Unit to 6 Units (Unit - a cube measuring 10 X 10 X 10 cm). 26 satellites 3U; 12 satellites 1 / 4U; 6 satellites 6U; one satellite 2U; and one satellite 1U.
Commercial, technology and student payloads. 53 spacecraft were launched into orbit in 5 separation stages.
Orbit:
Sun-synchronous orbit about 520 km high.
516 x 520 km x 97.455 ° .
Interesting:
- 2nd European start after COVID-19 quarantine was lifted.
- 4th European launch this year. Plus two launches of the Soyuz LV from Baikonur (offset by Russia).
- 53 satellites were launched. The total mass of fifty-three satellites is 877 kg.
- 14th launch of the Vega launch vehicle (first launch on November 13, 2012).
- The fourth stage of AVUM uses the Ukrainian RD-843 LPRE engine.
- The cost of launching the launch vehicle is $ 37 million.
- The cost of withdrawing 1 kg of payload to LEO is not less than $ 16,000 .
Link to high quality image
Article from NSF portal
Information from everyday astrounavt Mission
website .
Patches and logos of the mission
Legend to the "cap"
Personal opinion:
New market demands are forcing launch companies to offer group launches for mini-micro and nanosatellites. Europe has upgraded its lightweight Vega launch vehicle to carry out a group launch of small satellites. The first successful launch was completed. There will be more. This is new for Europeans, similar launches were carried out earlier by Americans, Russians and Indians (on the Falcon 9, Soyuz, PSLV and SSLV). Launching 50 to 100 satellites in a single launch saves customers payloads and expands the launch services market. The launch for the owner of the satellite costs $ 0.1-2 million, depending on the weight of the device.