Ukraine criticizes findings of investigation into failed launch of Vega C

The Ukrainian government has criticized the conclusions of the Commission of Inquiry into the failure of the launch of Vega C, which took place on December 20, which indicated a component manufactured in the country by the Yuzhnoye company as the cause of the malfunction. In a statement released on March 6, the Ukrainian Space Agency contested the investigation by the European Space Agency (ESA), which ended a few days ago, calling it too hasty and arguing that it “casts a shadow on the reputation of the space industry of the Ukraine”.

The Commission found defects in the density of a nozzle of the Zefiro 40 engine which would have caused it to break and concluded that the component supplied by the Ukrainian company can no longer be used. The country’s space agency, however, states that “the conclusions presented are still premature and further investigations may be needed to identify any additional factors that led to the failure of the Vega C launch”, further adding that the component supplied by Yuzhnoye was fully compliant with the required requirements.

During the press conference on the results of the investigation, held on March 3 last year, Commission officials acknowledged that the problem related to the ways in which the components were tested. The defect did not emerge earlier in the ground tests carried out on the engine or in the inaugural launch of Vega C, which took place last July, because in those circumstances the materials supplied exceeded the required requirements, while those used in the second launch were exactly in line with the specifications.

The statement issued by the Ukrainian government adds: “The Ukrainian specialists who were able to participate in the investigations provided considerations and suggestions that objectively did not find confirmation in the conclusions of the Commission of Inquiry”. The country’s space agency is therefore asking ESA to carry out further analyses.