| Vega C, the first development stage of the Interstage 2-3 Technological Model has been completed | <img alt="" src="https://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/trasferimento%20interstadio%20ad%20Avio.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://www.cira.it/en/communication/news/conclusa-prima-fase-realizzazione-modello-tecnologico-interstadio-2-3/Vega C, the first development stage of the Interstage 2-3 Technological Model has been completed | Vega C, the first development stage of the Interstage 2-3 Technological Model has been completed | <p style="text-align:justify;">The carbon preform of the Interstage 2-3 Technological Model of the new VEGA C European space launcher has been completed in the CIRA laboratories and transferred to Avio premises.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">CIRA, an Avio partner for this interstage development project, has developed an innovative, extremely efficient composite Grid architecture, that has been applied to a European launcher for the very first time thanks to the Composite Material Prototype Laboratory (PRMC).</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Such technology, from the optimisation of the sizing operations right up to the choice of materials and above all, the technical skill, has been entirely designed by CIRA, foresees three stages: the automated winding of the dry carbon-fibre preform by means of a PRMC Laboratory-patented parallel winding process, the subsequent resin infusion by means of vacuum bagging and finally the autoclave polymerisation stage.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Once the first automated winding stage has been terminated, the following two steps, relating to the infusion and autoclave polymerisation, will be carried out in the near future at the Colleferro-based plant, yet under the supervision of CIRA researchers.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">After the creation of the Technological Model and the structural and functional tests have been performed, the project will continue with the creation of the Qualification Model, to carried out by Avio yet always flanked by CIRA trainers and finally of the Flight Unit, which is expected to be completed by the beginning of 2019.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The CIRA PRMC Laboratory, which represents the state-of-the art in Europe on the subject of the GRID structure, is currently involved also in other ESA-funded projects relating to the creation of Boom prototypes for a deployable antenna as well as a Central Tube for satellite use.</p><p>July 10th, 2018<br></p> | 2018-07-09T22:00:00Z |
