VEGA Launch!

After being delayed again due to high altitude winds VEGA lifted off yesterday evening in Guiana. There is a great video you can watch which shows the build up to the liftoff, the liftoff, and the successful completion of the mission.

The link below has the video. The launch is 20 minutes in, and the rocket enters space about 28 minutes in. Then the satelites are deployed. Throughout the video is a nice commentary by several ESA experts about the physics behind the mission, the objectives and the outcomes.

http://www.diregiovani.it/rubriche/scientificamente/22287-vega-secondo-lancio-riuscito-asi-esa.dg

Watch the rocket go up (or at least a re-play)

After weeks of delays Vega is finally ready to go. (May 3rd) Friday evening the 30 m tall, 137 ton rocket will take off.

Thanks to the cameras ESA have set up it's possible to catch the launch live on this website:

http://www.arianespace.tv

or

http://spaceinvideos.esa.int/esalive

Fingers crossed for the success of the launch!