Vega C is Ready to Return to Flight

Two years after the latest flight, the Vega C rocket is ready to return to the pad ahead of a December launch. In recent weeks, the various components of the multi-stage launcher arrived in Kourou and have been integrated. The VV25 mission will launch the Earth Observation Sentinel-1C satellite, which will replace Sentinel-1B, launched in 2016, thus ensuring the continuation of the European Copernicus program.

The path toward launch

The new European rocket is tasked with replacing its predecessor Vega, retired in September, delivering enhanced capabilities. Since its debut in 2022, however, it has conducted only two missions. In fact, in December 2022, during the VV-22 mission, Vega C experienced an anomaly with its Zefiro-40 solid second stage.

Second Z40 static-fire test at Avio's Salto di Quirra test facility. Credits: Avio — *Second Z40 static-fire test at Avio’s Salto di Quirra test facility. Credits: Avio*

A later independent investigation by ESA revealed that a component suffered a ‘thermo-mechanical over-erosion’. Due to a further failure of Z40 during a static fire test in June 2023, ESA determined that the engine’s nozzle needed to be redesigned.

In May 2024, the upgraded Z40 successfully conducted a first test at Avio’s Salto di Quirra test facility in Sardinia, Italy. On October 3, the company carried out the second and final static-fire test of the engine, thus certifying the stage for its return to flight operations.

The day after, at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, the P120C first stage was transported from the booster storage facility to the ELV launchpad. Ten days later the Zefiro-40 second stage was installed on top of P120C. Last Friday, also the Zefiro-9 solid third stage was connected to the rocket. Now the teams will wait for the arrival of the payload, secured on the AVUM+ upper stage and encapsulated in the fairings.

Vega C's Zefiro 40 being installed on the launch pad at Europe's Spaceport. Credits: ESA — *Vega C’s Zefiro 40 being installed on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport. Credits: ESA*

Sentinel-1C was previously shipped and arrived in Kourou on October 9th. The third liftoff of Vega C is currently scheduled for December 3, 2024, at 21:20 UTC.

The rocket

Vega C (Vega Consolidation), is a small-lift launch vehicle, developed by the Italian Avio under ESA’s Vega program. Arianespace, a subsidiary of ArianeGroup is responsible for the commercial exploitation of the rocket. However, from 2025, Avio will take over the commercialization of Vega C.

*Vega-C Mission VV22 Lifting Off the Pad. Credits: ESA-Arianespace-CNES-Optique video du CSG-JM Guillon*

The launcher can carry up to 2,300 kg of payload to polar orbit, nearly 900 kg more than its predecessor.

Vega C is equipped with the P120C solid-propelled first stage, more powerful than Vega’s P80. It produces 4500 kN of thrust at liftoff and is also used as a booster on the Ariane 6 rocket. The Zefiro-40 second stage also offers improved capabilities compared to its predecessor, the Z23. Zefiro-9, the third stage, is the same used on Vega.

Maiden liftoff of Ariane 6 from french Guiana. Credits: ESA/M. Pédoussaut — *Maiden liftoff of Ariane 6 from French Guiana. Credits: ESA/M. Pédoussaut*

The upper stage is an upgraded version of the Attitude Vernier Upper Module (AVUM), which is propelled by a single Ukraine RD-843 engine that uses UDMH and NTO as propellants. Thanks to its reignition capability, AVUM+ allows Vega C to reach different orbits and perform a final deorbit burn. Despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the production of the RD-843 has not stopped. However, Avio is working to develop its own upper-stage engine to replace it in the future.

Avio is also working on Vega E (Vega Evolution), a new version of the launcher, that will feature the M10 cryogenic upper stage, which should further lower the launch cost and increase the overall capabilities. The maiden launch of this rocket is scheduled for 2027.