He launched from Kourou launch vehicle Vega with Ukrainian motor – Mirror of the Week

With the launch site on the northeastern coast of South America was launched a research unit for the study of gravitational waves in the framework of general relativity.

->

The researchers tested the theory of quantum gravity

In the Thursday, December 3, Vega launcher with the Ukrainian engine was launched from Kourou in French Guiana. It should display the calculated orbit demonstration unit LISA Pathfinder, designed to test the general theory of relativity (GTR). This was reported on the website of the company Arianespace.

The previous launch, scheduled for December 2, was postponed due to problems with the launch vehicle Vega. Customer launch of the station by the European Space Agency (ESA), the manufacturer – the company Airbus Defence and Space.

The device must LISA Pathfinder, using their own capabilities, in January 2016 to reach the L1 Lagrange point of the Earth-Sun. With the help of scientists are going to work out technologies for launch in 2034 the station eLISA (Evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) to detect predicted by general relativity gravitational waves.

The rocket Vega became the sixth in its history 13 February 2012 .

June 23, 2015 with the help of a rocket into the calculated orbit was launched European satellite Sentinel-2A, designed for remote observation of the Earth.

Vega rockets capable of output to low-Earth orbit loads of 300 to 1,500 kilograms. To the top (fourth) stage of the rocket Dnepropetrovsk design office “South” developed and “Pivdenmash” made a sustainer engine RD-843.

Arianespace – the world’s oldest company engaged in commercial launching of satellites. Total Arianespace uses three types of rockets: the European Ariane 5 heavy class, the Russian “alliance” of the middle class, as well as Italian Vega light class.

The European company Arianespace covers 60 percent of the global market for commercial launch vehicle into the geostationary orbit . The main competitors are the American SpaceX and Roscosmos .

November 27 China orbited remote sensing satellite “Yaogan-29″ .