European Space Agency Launches Rocket

The European aerospace premiered the new Vega rocket on Monday, it made its first flight in one hour and 21 minutes, as planned in the program of the European Space Agency (ESA).

This is a rocket of 30 meters high and 137 tons of weight that is to put into orbit small loads. It was launched from the Kourou Space Centre in French Guiana and reached 1,450 kilometers above Earth. It deployed nine scientific satellites, including Spanish origin satellite Xatcobeo.

The Xatcobeo, cube-shaped with 10 inches square and a kilo of weight, was developed by the University of Vigo, in cooperation with the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) and Retegal. It will also conduct a campaign of measurements of radiation from high energy particles, practically in the Van Allen inner ring, which could crystallize with applications ranging from signal reception of maritime surveillance to capture medium-resolution images for fire control.

The next five Vega rocket launches are insured through Verta program of ESA, which will provide an additional EUR 400 million for that series.
Then, the Vega will have two launches per year at a price of about 32 million euros per takeoff (about $ 42 million) to gain a foothold in the global market provided annually between 30 and 40 satellites.

(MS)