ESA - Kids - Technology - Countdown will soon begin for Europe’s Vega launcher


Launchers Spacecraft Mission control Useful space Space spinoffs	Countdown will soon begin for Europe’s Vega launcher 1 February 2012 Download: HI-RES JPEG (size: 1061 kb) Vega's maiden flight, VV01, is planned for the beginning of 2012 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. ESA’s new, small launcher will carry nine satellites into orbit on its very first flight: Italian space agency’s LARES and ALMASat-1 with seven CubeSats from European universities. Credits: ESA - J. Huart, 2012 Download: HI-RES JPEG (size: 704 kb) ESA’s new Vega rocket is now fully assembled on its launch pad. Final preparations are in full swing for the rocket’s inaugural flight. Flight VV01 will lift off from the new Vega launch site at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying nine satellites into orbit: the LARES laser relativity satellite and ALMASat-1 from ASI with seven CubeSats from European Universities. Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja, 2012