Pléiades-Néo 5 & 6

Launch Failure

Liftoff Time (GMT)

01:47:31

Wednesday December 21, 2022

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Mission Details

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Launch Notes

Flight VV22. 2nd stage Zefiro 40 motor lost chamber pressure from T+151 seconds due to unexpected erosion of carbon-carbon (C-C) material in the motor nozzle's throat insert, caused by the material's flaw in homogeneity.

Pléiades-Néo 5 & 6

Pléiades-Néo, initially also known as VHR-2020, is a four-satellite very high-resolution earth observation satellite constellation by Airbus Defence & Space designed as a follow-on to the Pléiades-HR satellites. The satellites will feature an imager with 30 cm ground resolution, possibly featuring CILAS deformable mirrors. They will use TesatSpacecom laser communication relay terminals to transfer data via the EDRS network, enabling near-real-time image access. The Pléiades-Neo constellation will use a 700 km orbit with two orbital planes to allow intra-day revisit times.

Sun-Synchronous Orbit

2 Payloads

1,845 kilograms

Rocket

Active
Vega C

Active Since 2022

European Space Agency logo

Manufacturer

ESA

Rocket

Diameter: 3.4m

Height: 35m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 2,300 kg

Liftoff Thrust

4,500 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 3.3m

Height: 9m

Stages

4

Launch Site

ELV

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

75 days

Stats

Vega


22nd

Mission

2nd

Mission of 2022

European Space Agency


294th

Mission

5th

Mission of 2022

2022


182nd

Orbital launch attempt