The firing of the European Vega rocket, initially planned for Thursday evening from Kourou (Guyana) for an unprecedented launch of a multitude of small satellites, has been postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions. "The wind conditions aloft above the Guyanese Space Center being currently unfavorable, Arianespace has decided not to start the final phase of the operations of preparation for the launch", announced the Arianespace company in a press release.
Due to unfavorable wind conditions over the Spaceport, Flight # VV16 with #Vega has been postponed. The soonest possible launch date for this #SSMS Proof of Concept flight with 53 small-sat payloads is Saturday, June 20. See the press release: https://t.co/IHUI7GfFKI
- Arianespace (@Arianespace) June 17, 2020The closest targeted launch date is Saturday at 10.51pm Kourou time (3.51am Sunday morning Paris time), "subject to favorable weather conditions," adds Arianespace. Takeoff had already been postponed for three months due to the health crisis linked to the coronavirus.
A competitive market
This flight should mark the return of the Vega rocket since its failure in the summer of 2019, which had led to its destruction, as a precaution. It represents a crucial issue for space Europe, which will enter a booming market, where competition is raging, especially with the American SpaceX. The “VV16” mission is to place 53 satellites in low orbit on behalf of 21 customers from 13 different countries.
This “cluster” consists of seven small satellites (weighing between 15 and 150 kg), as well as 46 nano-satellites, ranging from 300 grams to 11 kg. Their applications range from communication to Earth observation, via scientific research.
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