Ukrainian-made engines yesterday powered a European Vega rocket into space, allowing the launch of five satellites into orbits.
- Designed and manufactured in Dnipro by the SE “PA Yuzhmash”, the engines were transported to Kourou, French Guyana for launching the Italian-made rocket.
- The biggest satellite, the 922 kg the Pléiades Neo-4 Earth remote sensing satellite, was released into a sun-synchronous orbit 55 minutes after takeoff.
- Video shows a smooth launch, the latest in the 17-year collaboration between Yuzhmash and Italy’s Avio:
- Also, NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched a Ukrainian-powered Antares rocket last week to the International Space Station, carrying 3,724 kg of cargo, the US space agency reports. Dnirpo’s Yuzhmash engines powered the Northrop Grumman rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft. Video on PBS NewsHour shows a smooth launch. This is the 15th Antares launch with Ukrainian engines.
via Ukraine Business News, Yuzhnoye State Design Office