VEGA Small Launcher

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First stage (P80)

 

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Main data P80
Height 10.5 m
Diameter 3 m
Propellant mass 88 tonnes
Thrust (max) 3040 kN
Nozzle expansion ratio 16
Burn time 107 s

Vega's first stage, the P80 solid rocket motor, introduces advanced low-cost technologies that can be reused for future evolutions of Ariane-5 boosters. The new technologies mainly consist of:

a 3 m diameter graphite epoxy filament wound case

low density rubber for the internal insulation

low binder content and high aluminium percentage for the propellant (HTPB 1912)

simplified nozzle architecture using low-cost and lighter carbon phenolic material

consumable casing for the igniter

an electromechanical thrust vector control using lithium ion batteries
 
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