Using Vega as a launcher for manned craft

One of the problems with the stick is the need for the upper stage to do around half the work to get to orbit.

With the smaller Vega solid--you would wind up with something that looks even more like a top heavy German hand-grenade than Ares I.

Vega's P80 engine test has been successful and there's a video of the firing on ESA's site>

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMTHGD4VUE_index_0.html

Anyone know anything about the lightweight filament-wound composite casing that is used on Vega's first stage and what the weight saving is over the usual steel casing that is used on SRBs?

If significant, applying this technology to Arianne could result in a larger payload for the same size rocket.

Ariane M would give it a good market as a strap-on. This way it keeps the Next Ariane all European--without any Russian influence.

Under www.welt.de there is an article today saying that one or two stages of Ariana and Vega each might be combined to form a launcher for medium weight payloads.

But the article in short mentions another way of development also - towards reusability. The start would be the reusability of the first stage only while complete reusability later perhaps.

The article also says that Vega could return payloads if reentry-capacity ("Wiedereintrittskapazität" - reentry-capability would be "Wiedereintrittsfähigkeit") would be provided.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

This article talks about a new upper stage for Vega, Iwould have thought that they would get it flying first but perhaps it is a way to get a wider involvement with more countries.

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Ast ... e_999.html

A new upper stage might give a larger payload to LEO, an increase would make it more viable to launch a small manned vehicle.

Vega is really moving at a snail's pace, I thought that the engines had all completed their qualification testing last year, why is this not being flown until the end of this year or possibly even next?

Not sure whether I read a while pack that Vega was going to be used to launch more ARD modules to test vehicle re-entry characteristics, anyone got any firm information? If so then that would appear to me to have the possibility of producing a manned capsule for Vega using ARD as a starting point.

Still no news on whats happening with Vega but the entry for it on wikipedia says that the first launch will be next year, I guess that is correct given the lack of news and the amount of Ariane flights scheduled for this year not allowing time to squeeze a vega one is as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vega_(launcher)

It also talks about a proposed upgrade to a 2000kg payload, I assume this must refer to its reference polar orbit at 700km. Not sure what that would translate to in payload delivered to the ISS which is only at an altitude of 350km at a much lower inclination of 51 degrees (2,500kg?).

Some news on Vega

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0910/23vega/

apparently they are doing software testing still and first flights are likely to start in the fall of next year.