The launch chronology is underway for Vega Flight VV16, the Proof of Concept mission for Europe’s Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) rideshare concept. Liftoff is scheduled at 10:51 p.m. (1:51 UTC).

For its fifth mission in 2020 and the first Vega flight of the year, Arianespace will orbit 53 satellites on the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) Proof of Concept (PoC) Flight, performed on behalf of 21 customers from 13 countries.

With this mission, designated Flight VV16, Arianespace underscores its comprehensive range of innovative and very competitive services to address the nano- and micro-satellite market sub-segment, serving both institutional and commercial needs. The creation of such a new service using the company’s light-lift Vega led to the SSMS project.

VV16’s mission will serve different types of applications: earth observation, telecommunications, science, technology/education, etc.


The Vega launch vehicle and its 53 spacecraft payloads are in stable and safe conditions.

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