(Finance) – The cause of the failure of the second Vega C launch (VV22 mission, which took place in December) was a progressive deterioration of the Zefiro 40 nozzle. More precisely, the Independent Commission of Inquiry (IEC) composed of ESA and Arianespace has confirmed that the cause was an unexpected thermomechanical overerosion of the carbon-carbon (CC) nozzle throat insert, acquired by Airplane in Ukraine. This can be read in a note from ESA, the European Space Agency, which follows the communication with which Airplane reported the conclusion of the investigation
“Further investigation led to the conclusion that this was probably due to a lack of homogeneity of the material“, emphasizes ESA
“The anomaly also revealed that i criteria used for acceptance of the CC throat insert were not sufficient to demonstrate its airworthiness – it is added – The Commission has therefore concluded that this specific CC material can no longer be used for flight”.
No weaknesses in the Zefiro 40 design have been revealed and Avio stands implementing a workaround immediate for the Zefiro 40 nozzle with another CC material, produced by ArianeGroup, already in use for Vega’s Zefiro 23 and Zefiro 9 nozzles.
“ESA will fully engage, using its engineering and project management expertise, to support Avio in taking the necessary actions to restore confidence in the launch system,” he commented. Josef Aschbacher, Managing Director of ESA.
“Restoring Europe’s independent access to space is ESA’s priority and I am therefore delighted to be able to move forward with the Vega launch campaigns as we prepare the return to safe flight of Vega-C“, he added.