Vega, Vega-C,...

[tnt22]

DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace 4 ч. назад

Nice "jungle" shot of the #Ariane6 and #VegaC P120-C Booster getting closer for its test at #CSG

[Salo]

 Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo
First Hot Firing Test of P120 Booster @ArianeGroup @Avio_Group @esa scheduled July 12 at 5 pm (local time). 2 years and 4 days before Maiden Flight 16 / 07 / 2020 !!! Go Ariane 6 ! Go !

[tnt22]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Largest-ever_solid_rocket_motor_poised_for_first_hot_firing

LARGEST-EVER SOLID ROCKET MOTOR POISED FOR FIRST HOT FIRING


P120C awaits first hot firing

9 July 2018
This week, the largest solid rocket motor ever built in one piece will be test fired at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana for the first time.

This important milestone validates the booster for use on Vega-C next year and on Ariane 6 from 2020.

Fully loaded with solid fuel, the P120C rocket motor common to Europe's future launchers Vega-C and Ariane 6, will be held vertically in the test stand and ignited. Sensors will gather about 600 measures during the test.

The P120C is 13.5 m long and 3.4 m in diameter, contains 142 tonnes of solid propellant and provides a maximum thrust of 4615 kN (in vacuum) over a burn time of about 135 s.

The design builds on existing expertise and lessons learned with Vega's P80 first stage motor. P120C will replace P80 as the first stage motor of Vega-C. Two or four P120Cs will be strapped onto Ariane 6 as boosters for liftoff.

All main components of the motor such as nozzle, igniter, solid propellant, and insulated motor case have already been tested separately. This static firing will prove these technologies, materials and production techniques in combination and validate the behaviour of the assembled motor.

The test stand with the tools and equipment that will secure the P120C for its test firing, have had to be modified or developed to accommodate this huge motor.

Recently a full-scale model of the P120C filled with inert propellant allowed engineers to verify tools, check connections and perfect procedures.

Information gathered during this static firing will allow engineers to compare their numerical models against observed reality to consolidate the P120C design.

This will guide the design of the P120C qualification motor that will be static fired at the end of the year.

[tnt22]

DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace 6 мин. назад

Update on the #P120C static fire, it has been cancelled for today, further information will follow, next earliest attempt would be tomorrow but waiting for more information.

[tnt22]

P.-F. Mouriaux‏ @PFMouriaux 10 ч. назад

Inauguration au Haillan, près de Bordeaux, de la chaîne d'assemblage B-Line d'@ArianeGroup, développée avec @GroupeClemessy pour la production des tuyères du P120C pour #Ariane6 et #VegaC. Objectif : 35 tuyères par an.



ArianeGroup‏Подлинная учетная запись @ArianeGroup 7 ч. назад

Today, inauguration of the B-Line in Bordeaux, equipped with the most powerful robot in the world: 1,600 square meters fully automated to produce up to 35 nozzles per year!

Video (0:35)

[tnt22]

DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace 43 мин. назад

Update on the #P120C static test fire, it's planned for today, at 14:00 local
#CSG #Ariane6 #VegaC

17:00 UTC

[tnt22]

Aerospatium‏ @aerospatium 12 июл.

Le produit fini, prêt à partir pour la Guyane.
#P120C #VegaC #Ariane6 @ArianeGroup



12 июл.

La butée flexible, « articulation » de la tuyère du P120C qui permet son pilotage grâce aux vérins électromécaniques fournis par #Sabca en Belgique.
@ArianeGroup #Ariane6 #VegaC

[tnt22]

DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace 8 мин. назад

Update on #P120C static test fire, currently red on wind, new time, depending on meteo confirmation is 14:30 local #CSG time
#VegaC #Ariane6

[tnt22]

DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace 2 мин. назад

Extreme zoom of the current live BEAP view with the #P120C booster being shown at Jupiter2 #CSG

[tnt22]

DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace 3 мин. назад

Update on the #P120C static fire, due to meteo being red at #CSG the next attempt will be early next week, confirmed date/time will come later

[tnt22]

DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace 11 мин. назад

Update on #P120C static fire, new date for now is the 17th at 12:00 local #CSG (tbc next week)

P.S. Автор удалил твит с ленты...

[tnt22]

Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo 17 мин. назад

Nominal P120 hot firing from CSG ! Congrats to all teams @ArianeGroup @Avio_Group @CNES @esa ! Go Ariane 6, Go !!!

16 мин. назад

Déroulement nominal du premier essai à feu du P120 depuis le CSG. Ariane 6 et Vega C arrivent !!! Bravo à toutes les équipes @ArianeGroup @Avio_Group @CNES @esa !

[tnt22]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Hot_firing_proves_solid_rocket_motor_for_Ariane_6_and_Vega-C

HOT FIRING PROVES SOLID ROCKET MOTOR FOR ARIANE 6 AND VEGA-C


P120C solid rocket motor

16 July 2018
Today's hot firing of the P120C solid-propellant motor at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana proves its flight-worthiness for use on Vega-C next year and on Ariane 6 from 2020.

This marks an important milestone in the development schedule of Europe's new-generation launchers, designed to boost our autonomy in the space arena, and maintain Europe's global competitiveness.
The test lasted 135 seconds simulating the complete burn time from liftoff and through the first phase of flight.

No anomalies were seen and the performance met expectations, though full analysis will take several months.

The P120C is 13.5 m long and 3.4 m in diameter and is made using a carbon composite material and built in one segment. It will replace the current P80 as the first stage motor of Vega-C. Two or four P120Cs will be strapped onto Ariane 6 as boosters for liftoff.

This test was a collaboration between ESA, France's CNES space agency, and Europropulsion under contract to Avio and ArianeGroup.

The next static firing will occur at the end of this year with the P120C qualification motor.

[tnt22]

First hot firing of P120C motor for Vega-C and Ariane 6

European Space Agency, ESA

Опубликовано: 16 июл. 2018 г.

(5:59)

[tnt22]

P120C-successful-testfire.pdf - 662.4 KB, 3 стр, 2018-07-16 13:08:33 UTC

[tnt22]

http://tass.ru/kosmos/5379111

Во Французской Гвиане успешно испытали ускоритель ракеты Ariane-6
Космос 16 июля, 21:49 UTC+3

ТАСС, 16 июля. Гвианский космический центр сообщил об успешном проведении первого пробного пуска ускорителя P120C для новой ракеты-носителя Ariane 6. Об этом сообщается в понедельник на сайте компании Ariane Group.

"Пробный пуск P120C длительностью 135 секунд успешно произведен в Куру во Французской Гвиане", - говорится в сообщении. Отмечается, что этот "крупнейший в мире твердотопливный ракетный двигатель с монолитным корпусом из углеродного волокна" длиной 13 метров должен будет устанавливаться "на ракеты Ariane 62 и Ariane 64, а также на Vega-C. Сообщается, что вторая цифра в названии ракет семейства Ariane обозначает количество боковых ускорителей.

"Успешный тест первого... P120C - это серьезный шаг на пути развития будущих европейских ракет-носителей, - отмечается в пресс-релизе. - Еще два стендовых испытания запланированы для оценки данного двигателя перед первым полетом Vega-C в 2019 году и Ariane 6 в 2020 году".

Спойлер

Ожидается, что после прохождения всех испытаний и получения лицензий компания Europropulsion (совместное предприятие французской группы Safran и итальянской фирмы Avio) будет производить до 35 таких ускорителей ежегодно.

Ariane 6 - новое поколение ракет-носителей семейства Ariane. В ноябре 2016 года ЕКА и промышленное объединение Airbus Safran Launchers подписали в Париже окончательный контракт на разработку и производство новой ракеты-носителя Ariane 6. Она будет выпускаться в двух модификациях: легкая версия - Ariane 62, оснащенная двумя боковыми твердотопливными ускорителями и способная нести полезную нагрузку массой до 5 т, и тяжелая версия - Ariane 64, имеющая четыре ускорителя и позволяющая выводить на орбиту до 10,5 т груза.

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[tnt22]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/07/16/powerful-new-european-solid-fueled-rocket-motor-aces-first-test-firing/

Powerful new European solid-fueled rocket motor aces first test-firing
July 16, 2018 | Stephen Clark

European engineers test-fired the world's most powerful present-day single-segment solid rocket booster Monday in French Guiana, clearing a major development hurdle for the Vega-C and Ariane 6 launchers set for debuts in 2019 and 2020.

Mounted on a test stand over a flame trench carved out of bedrock at the European-run spaceport in South America, the P120C rocket motor fired at around 1200 GMT (8 a.m. EDT; 9 a.m. French Guiana time) Monday after bad weather delayed the test from last week.

Спойлер

The rocket motor consumed its supply of more than 300,000 pounds (142 metric tons) of solid propellant in 135 seconds, generating around 800,000 pounds of thrust at full power in a sea level atmosphere.

Engineers used the test-firing to collect about 600 points of data on the rocket motor's thrust, internal pressure, temperatures, and other performance metrics. The results from Monday's hotfire test will help designers confirm the rocket's performance matches expectations.

"No anomalies were seen and the performance met expectations, though full analysis will take several months," the European Space Agency said in a statement.

Burning a pre-packed rubber-like solid propellant mixture called HTPB, the P120C will be used as the first stage of Europe's new Vega-C rocket set to enter service late next year. The Vega-C is an upgraded, higher-performing version of the Vega launch vehicle, which has logged 11 straight successful flights since its debut in February 2012.

Europe's next-generation Ariane 6 rocket, scheduled for a maiden test flight in July 2020, will fly with two or four P120C rocket motors as strap-on boosters, allowing engineers to adjust the launcher's lift capability depending on the weight and destination of its payload.


The P120C solid rocket motor ignites Monday on a test stand in French Guiana. Credit: ESA/CNES – Photo Optique Video du CSG – JM Guillon

The P120C motor is derived from the Vega rocket's P80 first stage motor, itself an evolution from the strap-on boosters used on Europe's heavyweight Ariane 5 rocket. The P120C's carbon fiber casing is manufactured by Avio in Colleferro, Italy, near Rome, and its nozzle is produced at Ariane Group's Le Haillan site near Bordeaux, France.

Ariane Group is a 50-50 joint venture between Airbus and Safran, and the principal owner of the launch services company Arianespace.

The major components were shipped to French Guiana, and the developmental motor fired Monday was assembled and filled with solid propellant at a fueling plant at the Guiana Space Center, then rolled out to the test stand on rails last month.

"The success of the P120C static firing test is a key milestone on the Vega-C and Ariane 6 development programs in view of the launchers' maiden flights schedule for 2019 and 2020, respectively," said Giulio Ranzo, Avio's chief executive.

In a statement, Ranzo called the test-firing "a great technological achievement for its unique performance, the result of radical innovation combined with over 30 years of experience in solid propulsion through cooperation between Avio and Ariane Group."


The P120C development motor was transferred to its test stand in French Guiana in June. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – JM Guillon

The P120C rocket motor measures 44 feet (13.5 meters) tall and 11 feet (3.4 meters) in diameter. It contains nearly twice the propellant carried by the P80 rocket motor, and provides an increase in thrust of roughly 50 percent over the currently-flying P80.

By comparison, the Ariane 5 rocket's twin strap-on solid-fueled boosters each produce around 1.2 million pounds of thrust at sea level, more than the P120C. But the Ariane 5's boosters come in three heavier steel pieces, or segments, and are more expensive to manufacture.

High-power five-segment solid rocket boosters designed to fly on NASA's Space Launch System generate more than 3 million pounds of thrust.

Two qualification test-firings of the P120C rocket motor are planned at the end of this year and in 2019 before the inaugural flight of the Vega-C rocket.

The Vega-C will be the first vehicle to incorporate the P120C solid rocket motor. The uprated version of Europe's Vega launcher will be able to loft up to 4,850 pounds (2.2 metric tons) to a 435-mile-high (700-kilometer) polar orbit, an improvement over the Vega's current lift capability of around 3,300 pounds (1.5 metric tons) to the same orbit, according to the European Space Agency.

Officials intend for a launch of the upgraded Vega-C rocket to cost no more than the baseline Vega booster, which has achieved success in luring contracts for launching small Earth observation satellites. Arianespace is also eyeing the rideshare launch market for future Vega flights.

The Vega-C will also debut an enlarged second stage motor, called the Zefiro 40, which was successfully test-fired in Sardinia for the first time in March.


Artist's illustration of the Ariane 6 (left) and Vega-C (right) launch vehicles. Credit: ESA – D. Ducros

Europe's Ariane 6 rocket will use two or four P120C boosters mounted around the launcher's hydrogen-fueled core stage. A test version of the Ariane 6's Vulcain 2.1 main engine, based on the Ariane 5's Vulcain 2 powerplant, completed its first hotfire demonstration on a test stand in Germany in January.

The development of both rockets is funded in public-private partnerships between the European Space Agency and industry, mainly Ariane Group and Avio, with the objective to provide Europe with an independent strategic launch capability, while attracting continued commercial launch business for Arianespace.

The Vega-C and Ariane 6 rockets will blast off in French Guiana from launch pads a few miles away from the test stand used for Monday's P120C hotfire.

With the projected launch rates of the Ariane 6 and Vega-C rockets, Avio says it will produce up to 35 P120C motor casings per year at its Colleferro manufacturing facility. European officials say the shared solid motor production line will help bring down Ariane 6 and Vega-C launch costs as Arianespace faces stiff competition from private launch companies like SpaceX.

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[tnt22]

ESA Euronews: Inside Italy's Vega launcher factory

European Space Agency, ESA

Опубликовано: 20 июл. 2018 г.

Euronews had a unique chance to visit the Avio rocket factory, situated in Colleferro, just south of Rome, Italy, where engineers are lovingly crafting the next generation of carbon fibre European launchers.

Спойлер

The site is one of the very few space rocket factories in Europe. It's the place where the lightweight Vega launcher was born, and where the launchers of the future are being created.

This video is also available in the following languages:
German:
French:
Italian:
Spanish:
Portuguese:
Greek:
Hungarian:

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[Salo]

 DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace  5 ч.5 часов назад
The many small satellite carrier options for #VegaC #ESA
   
 Vega Space Transportation System, Space Transportation, CNES и Arianespace

   DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace  5 ч.5 часов назад
Interesting name for the #VegaC payload adapter... #VAMPIRE
 

[Ярослав]

tnt22 пишет:
 

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