Vega Operational Launch System Overview on launch operations and launch service cost drivers Davide A. Nicolini Vega Operational Launch System Project Manager
What needs to be done Vega Launch System Organization for the Production Phase Launcher Production AVUM + Interstage 3/4 Shipment Launcher Integration Combined Operations & Launch Preparation Launcher Production in Europe Z23 & Z9 sub-assemblies Interstage 1/2 Payload composite parts P80 Production in French Guiana P80 Stage and Interstage 1/0 System Studies and Flight Software LAUNCH Flight Readiness Review Flight Software Acceptance This document contains export controlled information that may not be re-exported outside of Arianespace and authorized subcontractors or licensees - 2012 Arianespace - Arianespace proprietary 09 & 10 July 2012 Vega Users Day - Rome 19
Mission preparation 90 75 60 45 30 15 0-15 -30-45 -60-75 VV03_Track AVUM1 AVUM2 AVUM Impact AVUM impact Zone TLM Stations -90-180 -165-150 -135-120 -105-90 -75-60 -45-30 -15 0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180
Launch Vehicle Integration - Starting with P80 The Launch Vehicle Integration is performed under the mobile gantry, starting with the arrival of the P80 from the booster integration facility Launcher integration Integration of the interstage 1/2 Vega Launch System Launch Vehicle Integration - With AVUM The AVUM with its interstage 3/AVUM is lifted on top of the Zefiro 9 This document contains export controlled information that may not be re-exported outside of Arianespace and authorized subcontractors or licensees - 2012 Arianespace - Arianespace proprietary 09 & 10 July 2012 Vega Users Day - Rome 41 This document contains export controlled information that may not be re-exported outside of Arianespace and authorized subcontractors or licensees - 2012 Arianespace - Arianespace proprietary 09 & 10 July 2012 Vega Users Day - Rome 44
Chronology and launch Typical Schedule (for first missions) Shipment Launch Vehicle Integration Launch Preparation SLV PPF Spacecraft Autonomous Operations Upper Composite Preparation LAUNCH Flight Readiness Review Launch Readiness Review Launch Chronology Mobile Gantry removal Day - 37 Day - 8 Day - 6 Day - 5 Launch Day PPF (Payload Preparation Facilities) Satellite preparation & filling Upper composite preparation Upper Composite transfer to SLV SLV (Vega Launch Site) Upper composite installation on the launch vehicle
Launch service organization The operating set-up can be summarized as: Launch service provider (Arianespace) Launch vehicle industry (ELV and subcontractors) Launch complex maintenance/exploitation (MEX industry at CSG) Launch range support (CNES-CSG) External - launch base - costs (consumables, insurances, etc.) The launch campaign today is composed of the following phases: Pre-campaign (ERO ground, LV team preparation) Launcher integration under ELV responsibility Combined operations (or launch preparation) under AE responsibility Post-campaign (ground revalidation, LV tools logistics and revalidation)
Vega launch service cost breakdown Vega%Launch%Service%Cost%Breakdown%(2nd%batch:%V7%to%V16,%launch%rate%2)% Launch'Vehicle' 62%' Insurance,' consumables' and'other'costs' 2%' Launch'Range' 6%' Launch'Complex' 9%' Arianespace' 12%' Launcher' Opera2ons'at' CSG' 9%'
Operating costs driven by duration of launch campaigns ration (ERO) 2.4 weeks Campaign support activities 3.2 months Launcher integration campaign (POL) A1 1 month A1 external finalization A2 2 weeks A3 3.4 weeks A3 External thermal protection finalization 1 week A4 3.8 weeks Launcher accepted (synthesis control) Ni-Cdm batteries removal for charging A5 finalization at CSG in S1B-N (reste-à-faire) 3 weeks Finalized Vespa and PLF delivery 4 days Phase 1 (ELV) Phase 2 (AE) GS support A5 (Pre-POC) 3.8 weeks Launch Vehicle delivery (DRB) Basecover integration 1.2 weeks Satellites campaign (POS) 1.2 months Combined operations readiness review (BT-POC) LV fueling readiness review (BT-REMPL) Combined operations campaign (POC) 1.07 months Launch system qualification tests 1.9 months Launch base preparation 3.65 months Range Preparation Review - phase 2 (RPB2) Launch Readiness Review (RAL) CSG green-light on safety flight gabarit Launch
Guidelines for launch cost reduction Objective: Reduce launch cost: launcher hardware cost and launch campaign costs, which are a significant fraction of the total operating costs In first instance: Reduce to the minimum required the number of personnel involved in the activities without impacting effectiveness and reliability Remove duplications between companies Reduce the duration of the campaign phases to the minimum possible Then: Optimize task allocation in order to limit as much as possible having personnel in idle mode (avoid duplication of roles and responsibilities) Reduce number of layers and the need for monitoring
Implemented actions Improvements during Verta Reduction duration of P80 acceptance, e.g. no HPS test and no nonattached test on TVC Mechanical & pyrotechnical integration first then electrical integration, avionic tests performed at launcher level Reduction of personnel due to the rationalization of the mechanical and electrical team allocation Use of Soyuz PAC transfer means for direct integration on launcher Many others which brought nominal duration down to 8 weeks See ELV slides for more details
Vega launch campaigns evolution 66 61 56 VEGA Launch Campaigns Trend Charts Compared campaign days vs. calendar days (VV01 reference calendar) Campaign Day # 51 46 41 36 31 26 21 16 Vega V1 (QUAL) Vega V2 (VESPA QUAL) Vega V3 Vega V4 Launch LV DRB 11 6 1 7 Nov 2011 14 Nov 2011 21 Nov 2011 28 Nov 2011 5 Dec 2011 12 Dec 2011 19 Dec 2011 26 Dec 2011 2 Jan 2012 9 Jan 2012 Calendar Weeks 16 Jan 2012 23 Jan 2012 30 Jan 2012 6 Feb 2012 13 Feb 2012
Further optimization Improvements possible during Verta Example: Fueling operations before Payload Assembly integration -> The last phase of the initial operational plan starting from the AVUM functional tests can be summarized by the following macro sequential: Improvements planned to enter into force with Vega-C 5.2 New operation plan In the new proposed scenario, the logic of the operations would be modified as follows: Parallelization of activities Stage redesign to allow more efficient integration (see ELV slides) Could bring nominal launch campaign duration down to 3 weeks In particular, the new scenario will allow performing the payload s integration and encapsulation at EPCU in parallel to the AVUM loading in MG.
Launch operations cost evolution Vega%Launch%Vehicle%Integra0on%/%Launch%Pad%Opera0ons%Cost%Trend% ELV% Arianespace% Launch%Complex%Indus% Vega%2012%)%Qualifica0on% Flight%Equivalent%(launcher% cost%based%on%price%es0mate,% campaign%on%actuals)% Vega%2014%)%VERTA% Vega%2016%)%2nd%batch%MOU% (rate%2)% Ideal%Launch%Service%Cost% (rate%2)%
Overall Launch Service Costs Evolution vs. ESA Estimated Ideal Cost Vega%Launch%Cost%Trend% Launcher%System%cost% Launch%Service%Provider%cost% Launch%Range% Vega%2012%)%Qualifica0on% Flight%Equivalent%(launcher% cost%based%on%price%es0mate,% campaign%on%actuals)% Vega%2014%)%VERTA% Vega%2016%)%2nd%batch%MOU% (rate%2)% Ideal%Launch%Service%Cost% (rate%2)%
Vega launch service companies: rationalization is possible within geo-return constraints AVIO% 19.4%% ELV% 6.2%% ARIANESPACE% 12.0%% AIRBUS%D&S% 9.4%% SAFRAN% 12.4%% VINCI% 2.5%% SABCA% 5.5%% RUAG% 3.1%% AMPAC% 2.5%% AEROJET% 1.3%% ALPOCO% 0.4%% ATK% 0.2%% COBHAM% 0.1%% DASSAULT% 0.5%% GELCO% 0.4%% MAI% 0.7%% MAROTTA% 0.3%% MBDA% 0.1%% NAMMO% 0.3%% REINMETALL% 1.3%% RYMSA% 0.1%% SAFT% 0.2%% SELEX% 0.6%% SOURIAU% 0.5%% STANFORD%MU% 0.1%% THALES% 0.9%% TORAY% 0.8%% TOTAL% 0.2%% YUSHNOY% 1.3%% ZODIAC% 1.3%% AIR%LIQUIDE% 0.4%% APCO% 0.3%% BUREAU%VERITAS% 0.1%% CLEMESSY% 0.8%% CNES% 1.0%% CSA% 0.0%% DENEL% 0.5%% ESQS% 0.7%% FREELANCE% 0.1%% GDF%SUEZ% 1.0%% GTD% 0.1%% IEC% 0.5%% ORANGE% 0.2%% MEDIA%KOUROU% 0.3%% MIT%CHARTERING% 1.7%% COMPAGNIE%MARITIME% NANTAISE% 1.6%% OHB% 0.4%% PENA% 0.1%% PEYRANI% 0.2%% SIEM% 1.0%% SODEXO% 0.3%% TBD% 1.3%% TELESPAZIO% 1.4%% VITROCISET% 1.1%% Other% 26.9%% Vega%2nd%Batch%Revenues%Distribu5on%per%Company% (at$launch$rate$2)$