Vega-C inaugural flight: latest from Kourou

Date: Fri, May 13, 2022 | 14:00 - 14:00 GMT | 16:00 - 16:00 CEST

Type: Download only

Format: 16:9

Preparations for the inaugural flight of the Vega-C rocket continue at at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, with the integration of the Zefiro-40 and Zefiro-9 solid-fuel stages.

Footage of these and other operations are available to media professionals at the following link:
https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos/2021/12/Vega-C_B-Rolls

Operating since 2012, the ESA-developed Vega rocket efficiently launches light payloads to low Earth orbits. On the wave of Vega’s success, Member States at the ESA Ministerial meeting in December 2014 agreed to develop the more powerful Vega-C to respond to an evolving market and to long-term institutional needs.

The Zefiro-9 third stage is shared with the original Vega, but for the more capable Vega-C it sits atop all-new P120C and Zefiro-40 solid-fuel stages. AVIO is the prime contractor for Vega and Vega-C development. 

Next to come will be Vega-C’s fourth stage. AVUM+, which is an uprated version of Vega’s AVUM fourth stage. Its liquid-fuel engine is re-startable several times in space, which means a Vega-C flight can orbit multiple payloads to different orbits. And, after dispensing its payloads, a final AVUM+ burn will de-orbit the stage to minimize space debris.

More information at: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Vega-C_stacks_up_for_inaugural_flight_VV21