| Vega C flight VV22 | |
| Rocket: | Vega C |
| Launch: | UTC |
| Operator: | Arianespace |
| Pad: | Guiana Space Centre, ELV |
| Payload: | Pléiades Neo 5 & 6 |
| Outcome: | Failure |
| Succession: | Vega launches |
| Previous: | LARES 2 |
| Next: | VV23 |
Vega C flight VV22 was the second launch of a Vega C rocket and the 22nd launch overall of a Vega family rocket. The rocket failed after launch, and the mission was lost.
The payload was the Pléiades Neo 5 & 6 satellites, which would have been the final satellites of France's Pléiades Neo constellation. The total payload mass was approximately with their adapters and dispensers. They were Airbus' 138th and 139th satellites launched by Arianespace respectively.
The flight was launched from the ELV launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre.
The flight was planned to deploy the satellites into two very slightly different sun-synchronous orbits at roughly .[1] However, the rocket failed after launch, and the mission was lost; it was caused by the deviation of the Zefiro 40 second stage from its intended trajectory following a loss of chamber pressure, resulting in reentry about north of the launch site over the Atlantic. The problem arose due to erosion of the throat insert procured at KB Pivdenne in Ukraine.[2]