VEGA Update / ESA TV Exchanges / 04-03-2003

The next transmission of the ESA TV Service will be:

04-Mar-03 14:00 – 14:15 GMT

VEGA Update

ESA TV Exchanges

Background information on the transmission:

Replay 1: 04 March, 19:45-20:00 GMT

Replay 2: 08 March, 10:00-10:15 GMT

Europe’s small launcher, Vega, will complement Ariane 5 as of 2006, for the launching of small and medium-sized satellites into polar and low Earth orbits.

On 25 February ESA signed a contract with the ELV company for completion of the development phase of the Vega European small launcher programme.

VEGA’s target lift capability is 1500kg and it will inject its payload into a circular orbit at 700 km altitude. The launch base to be used for vega is the European Spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana.

Arianespace will be the commercial operator for Vega. The first qulification launch is planned for mid-2006, with an expected frequency of 3 to 4 launches a year.

In recognition of the contract signing the ESA TV Service transmits an updated programme about the new European small launcher. The programme comprises of a 7 minute A-roll with split audio (English commentary/international sound) and is complimented by a B-Roll with clean international sound.

The script will be available on the day of transmission as a PDF document under http://television.esa.int/photos/EbS28533.pdf.

This ESA TV Exchanges feed is transmitted by the European Commission’s “Europe by Satellite” (EbS) Service. You can find the complete transmission shcedule and download scripts and shot lists, also for ESA TV items, from the EbS Website at http://europa.eu.int/comm/ebs/index