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
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, July 26
SpaceX Starship test advances Mars plans, NASA moon mission
San Antonio Express-News — 6:53 am ET (1053 GMT) Nasa boss praises rise of women in science
BBC — 6:50 am ET (1050 GMT) The last Space Shuttle returned to Earth 15 years ago
The Register — 6:50 am ET (1050 GMT) Successful Flight for Starship IFT-13
SpacePolicyOnline.com — 6:47 am ET (1047 GMT) Flight 13 success clears path for Starship catch attempts and lunar mission timelines
SpaceQ — 6:47 am ET (1047 GMT) |
