Vega flight VV06

Vega flight VV06 is the Vega space launch of the LISA Pathfinder satellite.[1][2]

Vega flight VV06
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Vega launch
Launch3 December 2015 (2015-12-03), 04:04:00 UTC
OperatorArianespace
PadKourou ELV
PayloadLISA Pathfinder
OutcomeSuccess
Vega launches

Payload

The flight was a single-payload mission that deployed the LISA Pathfinder scientific satellite into orbit. It had a total payload mass of about 1,986 kilograms (4,378 lb), including the satellite and its adapter, which is the Vega launcher's record (as of March 2019).[1][2]

LISA Pathfinder
Main article: LISA Pathfinder

The LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, a technology validation for the LISA mission, had a lift-off mass of approximately 1,906 kilograms (4,202 lb), and a design lifetime of 1 year. It was developed by Airbus Defence and Space for the European Space Agency's science directorate.[1]

It is Airbus's 114th spacecraft launched by Arianespace.[2]

Mission description

Launch date

The 6th successful Vega flight took place on 3 December 2015 at 04:04 UTC (3 December 2015 at 01:04 local time) from the ELV launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana.[2]

Timeline and trajectory

The mission was planned to last 1 hour, 45 minutes and 33 seconds from lift-off until separation, placing its payload into a low Earth parking orbit with a perigee of about 207 kilometres (129 mi), an apogee of about 1,540 kilometres (960 mi), and an inclination of about 5.96°, from which the spacecraft autonomously reached its L1 Lissajous orbit.[1]

Statistics

The launch was the 271st Arianespace mission (the 11th in 2015). LISA Pathfinder was the 523rd spacecraft to be put in orbit by Arianespace.

References
  1. "Vega Flight VV06 Press Kit" (PDF). Arianespace. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. "VV06: with Arianespace, Vega successfully places ESA's LISA Pathfinder technology demonstrator into orbit". Arianespace. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
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