Vega

© ESA

Astrium is involved in the European small launcher programme Vega, initiated in 1998. Vega’s specified payload capacity is 1,500 kg for a circular orbit of 700 km altitude. The launcher will be marketed by Arianespace and launched from the European Spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana. The Vega configuration consists of three solid-propellant stages, the P80 first stage, the Zefiro 23 second stage and the Zefiro 9 third stage, plus an liquid-propulsion upper module, called AVUM.

Astrium’s main contributions are the guidance and control algorithms, the on-board software, the attitude control system and avionics equipment reused from Ariane 5.

Vega’s first qualification flight is currently scheduled towards the end of 2008.

Some developments of the launcher, especially for enhanced versatility, are already planned as part of the VERTA programme, including multi-payload capability. Astrium has initiated internal studies, with the support of the German national space agency DLR, on longer-term evolutions for increased performance and ‘Europeanisation’ through a new upper stage using more powerful liquid propulsion derived from the Aestus engine or cryogenic propulsion.