Vega flight VV06

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Vega flight VV06
The Vega launch vehicle and LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, depicted in front of gravitational waves
Artwork featured on visitors' brochures
Vega launch
Launch3 December 2015 (2015-12-03), 04:04:00 UTC
OperatorArianespace
PadKourou ELV
PayloadLISA Pathfinder
OutcomeSuccess
Vega launches
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Vega flight VV06 is the Vega space launch of the LISA Pathfinder satellite.[1][2]

Payload[]

The flight was a single-payload mission that deployed the LISA Pathfinder scientific satellite into orbit. It had a total payload mass of about 1,986 kilograms (4,378 lb), including the satellite and its adapter, which is the Vega launcher's record (as of March 2019).[1][2]

LISA Pathfinder[]

Main article: LISA Pathfinder

The LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, a technology validation for the LISA mission, had a lift-off mass of approximately 1,906 kilograms (4,202 lb), and a design lifetime of 1 year. It was developed by Airbus Defence and Space for the European Space Agency's science directorate.[1]

It is Airbus's 114th spacecraft launched by Arianespace.[2]

Mission description[]

Launch date[]

The 6th successful Vega flight took place on 3 December 2015 at 04:04 UTC (3 December 2015 at 01:04 local time) from the ELV launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana.[2]

Timeline and trajectory[]

The mission was planned to last 1 hour, 45 minutes and 33 seconds from lift-off until separation, placing its payload into a low Earth parking orbit with a perigee of about 207 kilometres (129 mi), an apogee of about 1,540 kilometres (960 mi), and an inclination of about 5.96°, from which the spacecraft autonomously reached its L1 Lissajous orbit.[1]

Statistics[]

The launch was the 271st Arianespace mission (the 11th in 2015). LISA Pathfinder was the 523rd spacecraft to be put in orbit by Arianespace.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Vega Flight VV06 Press Kit" (PDF). Arianespace. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "VV06: with Arianespace, Vega successfully places ESA's LISA Pathfinder technology demonstrator into orbit". Arianespace. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
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