Support Real On First Flight Of Europe's Vega Rocket

On the 13th February, Europe's new rocket Vega made its first launch from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) February 21, 2012 - The 30m-tall vehicle has been designed to put small scientific and government satellites in orbit. Vega is carrying a total of nine spacecraft, including a fundamental physics experiment to test aspects of Einstein's theory of general relativity. "It's a very exciting development," said a source from Support Real, adding, "Europe is at the forefront of space research and it looks to stay that way." Member states of the European Space Agency (ESA), together with their industries, are investing more than a billion euros in the introduction of Vega.

Vega is intended to provide access to space for smaller satellites, which are increasingly important. Currently these satellites are sent into orbit on converted Russian nuclear missiles, and it can take many months for European satellites to gain a launch slot on these missiles. Vega should change this, giving more control over the schedules of space projects back to European operators. Support Real commented, "This goes a long way towards focusing European space research back in Europe, and ensuring that we gain the benefit from it." This first mission was intended to qualify the overall Vega system, including the rocket vehicle itself and its entire ground infrastructure and operations systems. The rocket is packed with sensors which will transmit data to controllers in real-time.

The largest satellite on board is the Lares (Laser Relativity Satellite) spacecraft. Developed by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) the satellite features 92 reflectors on its surface that will be used to make very precise laser ranging measurements from Earth. Its purpose is to study one consequence of general relativity know as "frame-dragging", which describes how the Earth twists local space-time around with it as it rotates. The other eight satellites riding on Vega are all very much smaller than Lares - most of them weighing just a kilo or so. These university-produced payloads include the first ever spacecraft from Poland, Romania and Hungary.

Our source from Support Real, a Madrid-based sales and marketing company, wished them every success on 13th, and was extremely positive about the effects on Europe's economy.

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