Wed, Jan 30, 2019
Will Be First Vega Mission For 2019 From The Spaceport
Payload preparations have commenced for Arianespace’s first Vega mission in 2019, which will deliver the Italian Space Agency’s (ASI) newest Earth observation satellite to Sun-synchronous orbit in March.
Built by OHB Italia as system prime contractor, PRISMA (PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa) was transported to French Guiana aboard a chartered 747 cargo aircraft – touching down at Félix Eboué Airport earlier this month, then travelling by road to the Spaceport to begin processing.
PRISMA is fitted with an innovative electro-optical instrument combining a hyperspectral sensor with a medium-resolution panchromatic camera. This type of combined instrument offers the advantages of conventional observation (based on the recognition of geometric characteristics of a scene) coupled with the ability to determine the chemical and physical characteristics of the objects present in the scene, using the hyperspectral sensor.
The scientific community and other users will be able to employ these capabilities for a wide range of applications, including – but not limited to – environmental monitoring, resource management, identification and classification of crops, and the efforts to limit pollution.
The March mission with PRISMA is designated Flight VV14, signifying the 14th launch of the lightweight Vega – which joins Arianespace’s medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 in a complete launch vehicle family to orbit commercial, governmental, institutional, scientific and experimental payloads.
The company’s fast-paced operational schedule in 2019 will include up to 12 missions using the three highly-capable launchers. Arianespace’s first mission in 2019 – Ariane 5 Flight VA247, carrying Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4 and GSAT-31 – is scheduled for a February 5 liftoff from the Spaceport.
(Image provided with Arianespace news release)
More News
Homing [ICAO] The procedure of using the direction-finding equipment of one radio station with the emission of another radio station, where at least one of the stations is mobile, >[...]
Aero Linx: European Regions Airline Association (ERA) The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) represents a diverse membership of over 50 airlines and more than 150 associate>[...]
A Few Questions AND Answers To Help You Get MORE Out of ANN! 1) I forgot my password. How do I find it? 1) Easy... click here and give us your e-mail address--we'll send it to you >[...]
While On Short Final, About 300 Ft, The Pilot Performed A Forced Landing Near Trees On September 7, 2025, about 0932 eastern daylight time, a CubCrafters Carbon Cub EX airplane, N4>[...]
Severe Icing The rate of ice accumulation is such that ice protection systems fail to remove the accumulation of ice and ice accumulates in locations not normally prone to icing, s>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (10.13.25): Homing [ICAO]
See All