Zefiro 9 third stage for Vega-C flight VV25 transported to the launchpad

The third stage for the Vega-C rocket flight VV25 with Earth-observer Sentinel-1C being transported to the launch pad at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, 18 October 2024. 

Europe’s Vega-C rocket can launch 2300 kg into space, such as small scientific and Earth observation spacecraft. At 35 m tall, Vega-C weighs 210 tonnes on the launch pad and reaches orbit with three solid-propellant-powered stages before the fourth liquid-propellant stage takes over for precise placement of satellites into their desired orbit around Earth. Vega-C is the evolution of the Vega family of rockets and delivers increased performance, greater payload volume and improved competitiveness. Complementing the Ariane family to launch all types of payloads into their desired orbits, Vega-C ensures that Europe has versatile and independent access to space.

Seen in this picture is the transport of the third stage called Zefiro-9 to the launchpad. Zefiro-9 burns through 10 tonnes of solid propellant in less than 2 minutes and at 3.17 m tall and 1.92 m diameter it provides a maximum thrust of 320 kN in vacuum.

The launch in preparation marks Vega-C’s return to flight, a key step in restoring Europe’s independent access to space. The first commercial flight of Vega-C in December 2022 failed due to a nozzle issue in its Zefiro-40 motor. Since then, an improved nozzle design has undergone two successful firing tests, in May and October 2024, which demonstrated the motor's ability to perform reliably under different pressure conditions and burn durations. These tests have confirmed the motor's readiness, clearing the path for Vega-C’s upcoming flight.

Copernicus Sentinel-1C is the third Sentinel-1 satellite to be launched. Carrying advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth’s surface, the ambitious Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission has raised the bar for spaceborne radar. The mission benefits numerous Copernicus services and applications such as those that relate to Arctic sea-ice monitoring, iceberg tracking, routine sea-ice mapping, glacier-velocity monitoring, surveillance of the marine environment including oil-spill monitoring and ship detection for maritime security as well as illegal fisheries monitoring.