The 15th launch of the Vega launcher took place on July 10, 2019 at 22:53 local time. About two minutes later, an anomaly was noticed in the activity of the launcher, it was shortly after the ignition of its second stage * The European Space Agency and the Ariane company appointed an independent investigation team
Ariane's European Vega launcher exploded about two minutes after liftoff on Wednesday from the Kourou launch center in French Guiana.
The launcher contained the observation satellite - FalconEye1 of the United Arab Emirates.
The Vega launcher was launched on July 10, 2019 at 22:53 local time, about two minutes later, an anomaly was felt in the launcher's activity, it was shortly after the ignition of its second stage.
The European Space Agency and Ariane have decided to appoint an independent investigation team to analyze the causes of the crash. This is the 15th flight of the Vega launcher, designed for medium-sized satellites, since 2012. It is also the first time that a launcher of this type has exploded.
The Falcon Eye 1 satellite is a dual-use satellite designed to provide imagery for the private market as well as the UAE military. The satellite was built by the defense and space division of Airbus. The cameras on it were developed and built by Thales Alanya. This satellite is based on the Pleiades satellite constellation - high resolution photography satellites developed in France.
The satellite was supposed to reach an orbit at an altitude of about 610 km and circle the earth 15 times a day. It was also supposed to be part of a constellation, with the same satellite, Falcon Eye 2, planned for launch on a different Vega launcher later this year, but of course, due to circumstances, the calendar must have changed.
On March 21, Ariane launched the 14th launch of Vega with the Italian Prisma satellite on it, and in the coming weeks another launch was planned with 42 satellites on it, which is also now in doubt. However, Ariane said it will continue preparations for the launch of its larger launcher, Ariane 5, which is scheduled for July 24.
It is estimated that in this case the people of the United Arab Emirates may submit an insurance claim, which may reach 400 million dollars, if and when this happens, it will be the highest insurance claim in the history of space insurance.
As you remember, on September 1, 2016, SpaceX's Falcon 9 launcher exploded and on it The Israeli communication satellite Amos 6, when refueling about two days before the planned launch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYwSxAP7xF4
The recording of the live broadcast of the launch event, including the malfunction on Ariane's YouTube channel
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This live stream recording is not available.
From what I understood, it did not explode, but the second stage failed to start.