The Independent Inquiry Commission, tasked with analysing the failure of Vega Flight VV15, submitted its findings on Wednesday, 4 September. Co-chaired by the Inspector General of the European Space Agency (ESA); and the Senior Vice President, Technical and Quality of Arianespace; the Commission was appointed on Thursday, 11 July. According to its assigned task, after having analysed the flight data, the Commission identified possible causes for the anomaly and drew up recommendations for Vega to resume launches under the requisite conditions of safety, security and reliability.

The Commission identified the anomaly’s most likely cause as a thermo-structural failure in the forward dome area of the Z23 motor. Based on this, the Commission has proposed: - an exhaustive verification plan of its findings, - a set of corrective actions on all subsystems, processes and equipment concerned. After these actions are completed, the resumption of Vega launches is planned by the first quarter of 2020, enabling a return to the string of 14 successful launches already recorded by Vega.

Flight data analysis

The Vega launcher lifted off as scheduled on 10 July 2019 at 10:53 p.m. (local time in French Guiana). At precisely 130 seconds 850 milliseconds after liftoff – and shortly after ignition of the second stage (Zefiro 23) – an anomaly occurred on the launcher, leading to the premature end of the mission.

The work of the Independent Inquiry Commission is based on the following:

- a complete analysis of measurements recorded during flight VV15;

- the study of documents concerning Vega’s production, quality and technical history, including the 14 successful Vega launches to date;

- investigations at different production and operational sites involving the staff from the prime contractor, Avio.

These investigations confirm that all preparation and countdown operations for the VV15 launch, as well as the flight conditions until after the ignition of the Zefiro 23 second stage (Z23) proceeded normally. In particular:

- the operation of the P80 first stage (engine ignition, atmospheric phase, P80 propulsion and separation) was nominal; all parameters were as expected and in line with those from preceding flights;

- the ignition and powered phase of the Z23 stage was nominal during the first 14 seconds and all parameters were as expected and in line with those for preceding flights.

The anomaly occurred at 130 seconds into the flight, based on the following observations:

- at 130 seconds 850 milliseconds, a sudden and violent event occurred on the Z23 motor;

- this event led to a breakup of the launcher in two main parts: the Z23 and the assembly composed of the fairing, satellite, flight adapter, AVUM and the Zefiro 9 stage (Z9).

After this event, the key telemetry measurements and observations were as follows:

- at 135 seconds, the upper assembly trajectory started to deviate from the nominal one;

- At 213 seconds, in accordance with the safety procedures in force at the Guiana Space Centre, a neutralisation command was sent by range safety authorities, and was confirmed as executed by analysis of telemetry data;

- At 314 seconds, telemetry data and signals from the launcher were no longer received by ground radar and telemetry stations.

The mission came to a premature end, without causing any damage to people or property.