Coming a week after the launch of a Minotaur-C, we have the launch of a very similar looking booster – the European Space Agencies Vega rocket, this time carrying the Mohammed VI-A satellite for the Kingdom of Morocco. This booster, of course, launched from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana.
At first glance, one might think the Vega and the Minotaur-C are related rockets. This is mainly a case of similar design, though – both systems use solid fueled lower stages of similar enough sizes and designs, but Vega uses a restartable, liquid fueled upper stage whereas Minotaur-C has optional solid fueled upper stages. Vega is also slightly taller and larger in 1st stage diameter, and is designed for slightly more versatile polar orbits than Minotaur-C is intended for. Vega also is capable of pushing a bit more into orbit.
This marks the 11th Vega launch since its initial flight in 2012 and it was, as we would expect, a complete success, continuing the flawless flight history for the Vega booster. The payload, the Mohammed VI-A satellite, is named after the current King of Morocco and is the nations second satellite and first high resolution imaging satellite. A twin satellite, Mohammed VI-B, is slated to launch next year on another Vega booster.
As for the launch itself, the live video feed from the ESA was spectacular, and while visual on the vehicle was lost in the clouds early on, the 10 seconds or so we did get to see the booster were wonderful, with equally great sound. Solid rocket motors produce a very distinctive, very solid rumble rocket fans just have to love.
As always, enjoy the footage. More to come!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vega_(rocket)
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/11/arianespace-vega-mohammed-vi-a-launch/