Lares, AlmaSat-1 & Others

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

10:00:00

Monday February 13, 2012

Watch Replay

Official Livestream

Mission Details

Read Article

Launch Notes

First flight of Vega and the only flight of Vega managed by ESA. Flight VV01.

ALMASat-1

Wiki

ALMASat-1(ALma MAter SATellite) is a microsatellite developed by the University of Bologna for demonstrative purposes which will be helpful for earth observation missions. The project is funded by the Italian Ministry of Research.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

13 kilograms

LARES

Wiki

LARES (acronym for Laser Relativity Satellite) is made of tungsten alloy and houses 92 cube-corner retroreflectors that are used to track the satellite via laser from stations on Earth (satellite laser ranging). The main scientific target of the LARES mission is the measurement of the Lense–Thirring effect, also known as frame-dragging, with an accuracy of about 1%, according to its proponent, Ignazio Ciufolini (Principal Investigator of the mission), and the LARES Scientific Team.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

387 kilograms

Rideshares

Other payloads were flown on this mission: - e-st@r - Goliat - MaSat-1 - PW-Sat - ROBUSTA - UniCubeSat-GG - XaTcobeo

Low Earth Orbit

7 Payloads

7 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Vega

Active 2012 to 2024

European Space Agency logo

Agency

ESA

Price

$37.00 million

Rocket

Diameter: 3.025m

Height: 29.9m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 1,436 kg

Liftoff Thrust

2,200 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 2.6m

Height: 7.88m

Stages

4

Launch Site

ELV

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

75 days

Stats

Vega


1st

Mission

1st

Mission of 2012

European Space Agency


13th

Mission

1st

Mission of 2012

2012


6th

Orbital launch attempt