{"id":15887,"date":"2015-12-04T22:10:09","date_gmt":"2015-12-04T14:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/take-a-last-look-at-the-vega-rockets-middle-of-the-night-liftoff\/"},"modified":"2015-12-04T22:10:09","modified_gmt":"2015-12-04T14:10:09","slug":"take-a-last-look-at-the-vega-rockets-middle-of-the-night-liftoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/take-a-last-look-at-the-vega-rockets-middle-of-the-night-liftoff\/","title":{"rendered":"Take a last look at the Vega rocket\u2019s middle-of-the-night liftoff"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Europe\u2019s LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, carrying high-tech thrusters and ultra-sensitive motion sensors to be used in a future gravitational wave detection mission, blasted off from French Guiana early Thursday aboard a nearly 100-foot-tall (30-meter) Vega rocket.<\/p>\n<p>After lifting off at 0404 GMT Thursday (1:04 a.m. French Guiana time; 11:04 p.m. EDT Wednesday), the four-stage Vega booster turned east and accelerated into orbit with LISA Pathfinder, deploying the satellite an hour and 45 minutes later.<\/p>\n<p>Read our full launch story for details on LISA Pathfinder\u2019s pioneering mission.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/147908793\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"678\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/P12X5kTXd1Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11073\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11073\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11073\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23188347100_5151cbf030_k.jpg\" alt=\"Credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015\" width=\"620\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23188347100_5151cbf030_k.jpg 1363w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23188347100_5151cbf030_k-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23188347100_5151cbf030_k-768x1154.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23188347100_5151cbf030_k-682x1024.jpg 682w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11073\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11074\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11074\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11074\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Retrait-portique_006.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 S. Martin\" width=\"620\" height=\"876\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Retrait-portique_006.jpg 595w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Retrait-portique_006-212x300.jpg 212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11074\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 S. Martin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11075\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11075\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11075\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23116137669_742c681700_z.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23116137669_742c681700_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23116137669_742c681700_z-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11075\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11076\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11076\" style=\"width: 621px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11076\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/22855826184_e714e5c61c_z.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015\" width=\"621\" height=\"414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/22855826184_e714e5c61c_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/22855826184_e714e5c61c_z-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11076\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11077\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11077\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11077\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Retrait-portique_007.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 S. Martin\" width=\"620\" height=\"439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Retrait-portique_007.jpg 841w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Retrait-portique_007-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Retrait-portique_007-768x543.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11077\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 S. Martin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11078\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11078\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11078\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23121693019_eff8b9c12a_k.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015\" width=\"620\" height=\"930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23121693019_eff8b9c12a_k.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23121693019_eff8b9c12a_k-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23121693019_eff8b9c12a_k-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23121693019_eff8b9c12a_k-683x1024.jpg 683w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11078\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11079\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11079\" style=\"width: 621px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11079\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/VV06_Decollage_plan-serr\u00e9_TXT.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG\" width=\"621\" height=\"879\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/VV06_Decollage_plan-serr\u00e9_TXT.jpg 595w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/VV06_Decollage_plan-serr\u00e9_TXT-212x300.jpg 212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11079\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11080\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11080\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11080\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/22862544563_280e49a9b6_k.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015\" width=\"620\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/22862544563_280e49a9b6_k.jpg 1363w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/22862544563_280e49a9b6_k-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/22862544563_280e49a9b6_k-768x1154.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/22862544563_280e49a9b6_k-682x1024.jpg 682w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11080\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11081\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11081\" style=\"width: 621px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11081\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23121699589_c263cba214_z.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015\" width=\"621\" height=\"414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23121699589_c263cba214_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23121699589_c263cba214_z-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11081\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11082\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11082\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11082\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Decollage_VV06_004.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 JM Guillon\" width=\"620\" height=\"439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Decollage_VV06_004.jpg 841w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Decollage_VV06_004-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Decollage_VV06_004-768x543.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11082\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 JM Guillon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11083\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11083\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11083\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23407197191_7c638b8938_k.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015\" width=\"620\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23407197191_7c638b8938_k.jpg 1363w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23407197191_7c638b8938_k-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23407197191_7c638b8938_k-768x1154.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23407197191_7c638b8938_k-682x1024.jpg 682w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11083\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11084\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11084\" style=\"width: 621px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11084\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dec-champ-large_088.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 JM Guillon\" width=\"621\" height=\"437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dec-champ-large_088.jpg 842w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dec-champ-large_088-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dec-champ-large_088-768x541.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11084\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 JM Guillon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11085\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11085\" style=\"width: 621px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11085\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Decollage_VV06_047.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 S. Martin\" width=\"621\" height=\"439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Decollage_VV06_047.jpg 842w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Decollage_VV06_047-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Decollage_VV06_047-768x543.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11085\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 S. Martin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11086\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11086\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11086\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dec-champ-large_035.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 JM Guillon\" width=\"620\" height=\"880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dec-champ-large_035.jpg 593w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dec-champ-large_035-211x300.jpg 211w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11086\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 JM Guillon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11087\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11087\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11087\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23193918480_c1817032bd_k.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015\" width=\"620\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23193918480_c1817032bd_k.jpg 1363w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23193918480_c1817032bd_k-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23193918480_c1817032bd_k-768x1154.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/23193918480_c1817032bd_k-682x1024.jpg 682w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11087\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\u2013Stephane Corvaja, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11088\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11088\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-11088\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dec-champ-large_064.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 JM Guillon\" width=\"620\" height=\"880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dec-champ-large_064.jpg 593w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dec-champ-large_064-211x300.jpg 211w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11088\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: ESA\/CNES\/Arianespace \u2013 Optique Video du CSG \u2013 JM Guillon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b><i>Email the author.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Follow Stephen Clark on Twitter: @StephenClark1.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Europe\u2019s LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, carrying high-tech thrusters and ultra-sensitive motion sensors to be used in a future gravitational wave detection mission, blasted off from French Guiana early Thursday aboard a nearly 100-foot-tall (30-meter) Vega rocket. After lifting off at 0404 GMT Thursday (1:04 a.m. French Guiana time; 11:04 p.m. EDT Wednesday), the four-stage Vega booster [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1657,498,1244,3871,831,1773,3243,1311],"class_list":["post-15887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-airbus-defense-and-space","tag-arianespace","tag-avio","tag-elv","tag-european-space-agency","tag-guiana-space-center","tag-lisa-pathfinder","tag-vega"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15887"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15887"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15887\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}