Rome, 20 January 2022 – At the end of an intense 2021 with 3 successful Ariane and 3 successful Vega missions in about 6 months, Avio announces the signature by Arianespace of several new launch service contracts for Vega C, whose maiden flight is now expected in May 2022.

ESA’s Vega C launch vehicle will fly in the second quarter of 2022 offering more performance to all orbits and extended mission flexibility at a similar cost to the current Vega. A new contract aims to widen these mission capabilities to capture new opportunities and satisfy emerging market needs to 2027.

At the event, organized by Avio at Italy Pavilion at Expo Dubai, Space economy, Techology and Sustainability in space and from space topics have been covered.

During the recent meeting in Rome between Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of the Economy, Finance and Recovery, and Giancarlo Giorgetti, Italian Minister of Economic Development, Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, and Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio signed an agreement with Avio to start production of 10 new Vega C launch vehicles.

An article on SpaceNews magazine about Vega C new generation rocket, its future and its applications such as the full exploitation of the SSMS and the launch of the Space Rider vehicle. 

Read the article

Rome, 7th December 2020 - Today Arianespace and Airbus have announced the closing of the contract to launch the CO3D earth observation satellite constellation with Vega C in 2023.

Just after one month from the SSMS Maiden Mission on Vega VV16, the SSMS module that will fly on the Vega VV18, scheduled for the beginning of 2021 after the next VV17 mission in November, is already fully booked.

• Success of the third and final static test fire of the P120C rocket motor, lasting 130 seconds, at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana
• The P120C solid rocket motor will act as side boosters for Ariane 6 as well as being the Vega C first stage
• For this last test before maiden flight, the motor was in the Ariane 6 configuration, as the P120C will equip both configurations

The test was performed at the presence of the Undersecretary of Defense Hon. Giulio Calvisi who then visited the construction site of the new SPTF industrial site for space activities in Perdasdefogu, Sardinia

Cagliari, 1st October 2020. The qualification test of the Zefiro 9 VT3 engine, an advanced version of the third stage propulsion system already in use on the Vega launcher and specifically enhanced and customized for the new Vega C, was successfully completed this morning in view of the maiden flight scheduled for 2021.

The combined test of the A1A assembly of the new Vega C launcher was held at the Guyanese Space Centre.

This system test is one of the main milestones of the Vega C development programme.

The test simulates and verifies for the first time the BIP/MG transport operations and integration of the first Vega C stage.