[LIVE] Rocket Launch | VEGA VV16 | Arianespace SSMS PoC - 53 satellite ...

[LIVE] Rocket Launch | VEGA VV16 |  Arianespace SSMS PoC - 53 satellite ...
For its fifth mission in 2020 and the first #Vega flight of the year, Arianespace will orbit 53 satellites on the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) Proof of Concept (PoC) Flight, performed on behalf of 21 customers.

With this mission, designated Flight #VV16, #Arianespace underscores its comprehensive range of innovative and very competitive services to address the nano- and micro-satellite market sub-segment, serving both institutional and commercial needs. The creation of such a new service using the company’s light-lift Vega led to the SSMS project.

The European Space Agency (ESA) funded the SSMS hardware development, and also contributed with the European Union to the funding of this “Proof of Concept” (PoC) flight.

The combined European efforts will enhance Arianespace’s response to the rideshare demand with solutions that are perfectly suited to the flourishing small satellite market.