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Unlike other "standard" space projects, the payload (consisting of two satellites, and seven picosatellites) was 100% designed and developed by students at vari
by antr 15y ago
Unlike other "standard" space projects, the payload (consisting of two satellites, and seven picosatellites) was 100% designed and developed by students at various European universities. So even if the project began in 1998, do consider that both capital and technical resources are in no way comparable to those at NASA, ESA or JAXA; hence the timeframe of the project.
- maaku 15y agoHe's talking about the rocket, not the payload.
- antr 15y agoYou are right that it refers to the rocket, but the length of the project is due to the purpose and goal of the payload, not the development of the rocket. If you look at the history of the VEGA programme, and why it was started, you will see that the development of the rocket has been designed for the sole purpose of putting into orbit a unique combination of (scientific) satellites and picosatellites. The development of the rocket has always gone hand in hand with that of the payload. The rocket technology used in VEGA already existed, as Avio was already a big contributor in the Ariane 5. The primary user of this rocket, and the those who promoted VEGA, were and still are, the scientific community at European universities.