Military Space News
ROCKET SCIENCE
Arianespace inks deal to launch at least two Vega-C rockets
Arianespace inks deal to launch at least two Vega-C rockets
by AFP Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) March 14, 2023
Arianespace said on Tuesday that it has signed a contract to launch two Vega-C rockets, forging ahead three months after the failure of the Italian-made vehicle's first commercial flight.

The first of the two new launches will occur in the last quarter of 2025 from the Kourou space base in French Guiana, Arianespace said in a statement.

The contract includes an option for a third launch, it added.

Italian aerospace manufacturer Avio makes the Vega and Vega-C rockets for the multinational European Space Agency (ESA), the consortium of European partner states that oversees some operations of Arianespace.

The rockets have had a "totally unacceptable" rate of failure, with three of eight launches of the Vega and Vega-C ending in failure, ESA director of space transportation Daniel Neuenschwander said.

The failures triggered the grounding of the Vega program while a commission of inquiry undertook a probe.

The commission reported last week that the December 20, 2022, failure of the Vega-C launch was due to a flawed carbon composite nozzle subcontracted to a Ukrainian company, Yozhnoye.

The new supplier of the nozzle is Arianegroup, the prime contractor of the Ariane 6 launch system.

The Vega-C launch vehicle will be used for the first deployments of the $1.1 billion Iride Earth observation satellites for coastal surveillance, fire prevention and air quality monitoring. The Iride program is an initiative of the Italian government.

The Vega-C is a newer, more powerful version of the Vega rocket.

The contract is "excellent news," Stephane Israel, president of Arianespace, told AFP.

The Vega-C "is perfectly suited to serve the Earth observation market because of its higher performance and versatility," Israel said.

mra/led/tjj/bgs

AVIO

Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ROCKET SCIENCE
Launch of world's first 3D-printed rocket canceled at last second
Washington (AFP) March 11, 2023
The launch of the world's first 3D-printed rocket was ultimately scrubbed after several tries on Saturday, marking a new setback for the private owner of an innovative spacecraft billed as being less costly to produce and fly. Engines had begun igniting on the unmanned Terran 1 rocket, built by California aerospace startup Relativity Space, when an "automation" issue caused the company to abort takeoff for the second time in less than a week. A little later, the company tried again to launch the ... read more

ROCKET SCIENCE
Reagan's 'Star Wars' at 40: Battle of the satellites

Russia to modernise Moscow's air defence systems

North Korea warns US against intercepting missiles during tests

Germany to give Slovakia Mantis air defence systems

ROCKET SCIENCE
Australia to get 220 Tomahawk missiles from US

Russia pounds Ukraine with barrage of rare hypersonic missiles

Northrop Grumman test fires stage-one solid rocket motor for Sentinel Missile

Japan to buy 400 Tomahawk missiles from US: PM Kishida

ROCKET SCIENCE
Russian navy 'repelled' drone attack on Crimea port

New "traffic cop" algorithm helps a drone swarm stay on task

Russian drone attack on school kills four in Kyiv region

Drone maker Zipline unveils system for city deliveries

ROCKET SCIENCE
Silvus Technologies unveils Spectrum Dominance

Rensselaer researcher breaks through the clouds to advance satellite communication

Space Systems Command demonstrates satellite anti-jam capability

SpaceX launches 40 more Internet satellites for competitor

ROCKET SCIENCE
Ukraine to receive US Abrams tanks by fall: Pentagon

EU agrees 2-billion-euro ammunition plan for Ukraine

German military has 'too little of everything'

Ukraine troops wrap up Leopard tank training in Spain

ROCKET SCIENCE
NATO chief warns allies must boost defence spending

'Guns and Roses': Bulgaria arms trade booms on Ukraine war

Slovakia offered $1bn in US arms in trade-off for Ukraine aid

UK boosts security spending against China and Russia threats

ROCKET SCIENCE
Xi departs Russia after 'new era' summit with Putin

Xi departs Moscow, Russia strikes Ukraine school

Sweden approves NATO entry as Turkey, Hungary ratifications drag

Blinken dismisses China's 'marriage of convenience' with Russia

ROCKET SCIENCE
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2026 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.