VEGA – Europe’s Small Launcher Takes Shape / ESA TV Exchanges / 24-11-2006

The next transmission of the ESA TV Service will be:

24-Nov-06 10:15 – 10:30 GMT

VEGA – Europe’s Small Launcher Takes Shape

ESA TV Exchanges

Background information on the transmission:

Replay 1: 24 November 16:00-16:15 GMT

Replay 2: 25 November 11:45-12:00 GMT

On 30 November, the main stage of Euope’s new small launcher VEGA, will undergo a maiden test firing at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

The test–during which the rocket stage will actually remain safely attached to the ground–is using a unique test pad that was already used for the Ariane 5 boosters.

The firing will last about 100 seconds with the motor delivering some 200 tons of average thrust. Afterwards, more such static tests are planned to make sure Vega will be ready for its maiden flight into space, complementing Ariane 5 and Soyuz in the small satellite segment of the launch market.

Today’s Exchange provides a concise overview of VEGA development, including firing tests of the upper stage in Sardinia.

The script is online as a PDF file under http://television.esa.int/photos/EbS49870.pdf

A WMV preview file is online under http://esatv-movies.e-vision.nl/videos/mphi/vega_08-11-06_wmphigh.wmv

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

More background information can be found on http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_Access_to_Space/ASEKMU0TCNC_0.html.

Transmission details:EUTELSAT HOT BIRD at 13° East (DVB/MPEG-2)

Horizontal, F=12,476 MHz (MCPC, Europe by Satellite)

SR=27,500 MS/sec, FEC=3/4

For further information, visit our website at http://television.esa.int. For other enquires, contact Claus Habfast, Tel +31 71 565 3838, Fax +31 71 565 6340, e-mail claus.habfast@esa.int.