Vega C launch failure blamed on eroded nozzle component
Posted: Sun, Mar 5, 2023, 11:24 AM ET (1624 GMT)
Investigators blamed the failed launch of a Vega C rocket last December on a component in the nozzle of the rocket's second stage. ESA said Friday that the independent investigation into the failure found that a throat insert in the nozzle of the Zefiro-40 motor, made of carbon-carbon material, suffered "thermo-mechanical over-erosion" during the launch. That erosion was linked to higher porosity of the material that was not detected in earlier acceptance testing. Avio, the prime contractor for Vega C, will replace that component, manufactured by Ukrainian company Yuzhnoye, with one from ArianeGroup. An older Vega rocket, not affected by the problem, will launch several unnamed payloads before the end of the summer, with Vega C scheduled to return to flight by the end of the year, launching the Sentinel-1C radar imaging satellite.
Investigators blamed the failed launch of a Vega C rocket last December on a component in the nozzle of the rocket's second stage. ESA said Friday that the independent investigation into the failure found that a throat insert in the nozzle of the Zefiro-40 motor, made of carbon-carbon material, suffered "thermo-mechanical over-erosion" during the launch. That erosion was linked to higher porosity of the material that was not detected in earlier acceptance testing. Avio, the prime contractor for Vega C, will replace that component, manufactured by Ukrainian company Yuzhnoye, with one from ArianeGroup. An older Vega rocket, not affected by the problem, will launch several unnamed payloads before the end of the summer, with Vega C scheduled to return to flight by the end of the year, launching the Sentinel-1C radar imaging satellite.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, September 17
Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites scheduled for Wednesday morning
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) Colorado Springs springs into action amid loss of Space Command
Washington Times — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) SpaceX rocket-launching license survives NEPA challenge
POLITICO — 1:30 am ET (0530 GMT) SpaceX Eyes First Starship Version 3 Launch In ’25 Or ’26
Aviation Week — 1:29 am ET (0529 GMT) Judge dismisses suit challenging SpaceX's Starship approval
Houston Chronicle — 1:28 am ET (0528 GMT) |
