| Vega-C flight VV22 | |
| Upright: | 1.2 |
| Rocket: | Vega |
| Launch: | 21 December 2022, 01:47:31 UTC |
| Operator: | Arianespace |
| Pad: | Kourou, ELV |
| Outcome: | Failure |
| Succession: | Vega launches |
| Previous: | LARES 2 |
| Next: | VV23 |
Vega C flight VV22 was the launch of the Vega rocket. The rocket failed after launch and the mission was lost.
The payload was composed of the 5 and 6 satellites, which would have been the final satellites of France's Pléiades Neo constellation. With their adapters and dispensers, the total payload mass was approximately 1,977 kilograms. They were Airbus' 138th and 139th satellites launched by Arianespace respectively.
The flight was launched from the ELV launch pad in Kourou, Centre Spatial Guyanais.
The flight was planned to deploy the satellites into two very slightly different Sun-synchronous orbits at roughly 620 km. However, the rocket failed after launch and the mission was lost; it was caused by the deviation of the Zefiro 40 second stage from its intended trajectory following a loss of chamber pressure, resulting in reentry about north of the launch site over the Atlantic. The problem arose due to erosion of the throat insert procured at KB Pivdenne in Ukraine.[1]