PW-Sat and other CubeSats are one step closer to the launch! The European Space Agency has just announced the completion of the next, important step of the preparation: all satellites of the first Vega flight have already been integrated with the platform, which will be placed on the last stage of rocket at the beginning of next year.
In the center of the platform we can see a spherical LARES satellite, the main payload of the rocket. Behind LARES (not visible in the photo above) is ALMASat-1, a smaller companion of Italian cargo. CubeSats – in the number of seven, each 10x10x10 cm – can be found in three containers, the P-PODs. Two of them we can see on the right side of the platform, third one is on the left. Yes, you guessed it right – the oblong silver boxes!
The countdown continues. As shown in the schedule, launch will take place in late January or early February. The launch window – the time the rocket should take off – opens January 26, closes in the first week of February.
More on Vega preparation: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMS0T7XZVG_index_0.html