The next, fourth, RN Vega launch from Kourou successfully carried out on February 11 at 15:40 in Kiev. This is stated in the message Ukrainian space agency, posted on the government website.
As specified in the message, Vega rocket put into orbit experimental ship, dubbed IXV (Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle — experimental vehicle intermediate class), created by Europeans for testing technologies that will be used in the creation of new spacecraft reusable.
RN Vega light class intended for output to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 1200 km satellites weighing up to 1200 kg, or a polar orbit at an altitude of 700 km satellites weighing 1500 kg, and is a joint development of the Italian and European space agencies.
Marching engine RD-868P for the 4th degree of the European launch vehicle is designed and produced in Ukraine: SDO “Yuzhnoye” and by “Pivdenmash”, participate in the program Vega since 2004. In addition to Ukraine, Italy and Francein the program RN Vega involved Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, according to Podrobnosty.
A successful test run RN Vega carried out in February 2012, from May 2013, ESA started commercial operation of the new RN.
The Government of Ukraine and ESA in 2008 signed an agreement on cooperation in the use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The structure ESA includes 17 European countries.
