A fault in a nozzle brought on the failure of the European Vega C rocket’s second-ever flight, a fee concluded.
“Gradual deterioration” of the rocket nozzle — and extra particularly, sudden “overerosion” of a carbon-carbon (C-C) insert inside the nozzle — led to the lack of Vega C on Dec. 20, an unbiased investigation fee mentioned at this time (March 3) in a European Area Company press launch (opens in new tab).
“The standards used to just accept the C-C throat insert weren’t ample to show its flightworthiness. The fee has subsequently concluded that this particular C-C materials can not be used for flight,” the discharge added.
Maker Arianespace mentioned within the launch it could implement the suggestions of the fee and goal one other launch of Vega C for late 2023.
Associated: Europe’s Vega C rocket fails on 2nd-ever mission, 2 satellites misplaced
Vega C is a extra highly effective successor to the Vega, which first took flight in 2012. For comparability: Vega C can ship 5,070 kilos (2,300 kilograms) of payload to a 435-mile-high (700 kilometers) sun-synchronous orbit, in comparison with 3,300 kilos (1,500 kg) for the older rocket, in line with Arianespace (opens in new tab).
The primary stage of the 115-foot (35-meter) four-stage Vega C rocket, known as P120C, labored simply superb after lifting off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on Dec. 20, however the second-stage Zefiro 40 suffered the failure. Two satellites for Airbus’ Pléiades Neo Earth-imaging constellation have been misplaced within the incident.
The C-C insert on Zefiro 40 was procured from a Ukrainian firm known as Avio, and the fee mentioned investigators uncovered “a flaw within the homogeneity of the fabric.” Avio will put in an “rapid various answer” with one other C-C materials, which ArianeGroup makes and which can be used on the unique Vega’s rocket nozzles (just like the Zefiro 23 and the Zefiro 9.)
The lack of the Pléiades satellites on Dec. 20 delayed the completion of Airbus’ Pléiades Neo Earth-imaging constellation, which operates in sun-synchronous orbit (that means the spacecraft flies in an orbit retaining the angle of the solar constant on the bottom). The spacecraft have been known as Pléiades Neo 5 and Pléiades Neo 6 and collectively weighed 4,359 kilos (1,977 kg).
Earlier than the December failure, Vega C accomplished a July 2022 flight that efficiently despatched aloft LARES-2, a 650-pound (295 kg) satellite tv for pc developed by the Italian Area Company, in addition to six ride-along cubesats.
Elizabeth Howell is the co-author of “Why Am I Taller (opens in new tab)?” (ECW Press, 2022; with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams), a guide about house drugs. Observe her on Twitter @howellspace (opens in new tab). Observe us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or Fb (opens in new tab).
