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Vega
30m
Human (1.8m)
1.8m
Vega / Credits: Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons)
ItalyActive2012–2026
Vega
Avio / ESA / Arianespace
Europe's small-lift rocket, designed to launch Earth observation and scientific satellites into polar orbits.
Vega is a European small-lift launch vehicle developed by Avio in partnership with ESA. It uses three solid-propellant stages topped by a liquid-propellant upper stage (AVUM). Vega primarily launches Earth observation satellites for ESA and commercial customers into sun-synchronous orbits. An upgraded version, Vega-C, began operations in 2022.
Fun facts
Vega launches from the same complex as Ariane 5 at Kourou, French Guiana.
The first Vega flight carried nine satellites simultaneously — demonstrating its multi-manifest capability.
Vega-C uses an upgraded first stage motor that increases payload capacity by 65%.
Height
30 m
Diameter
3 m
Mass
137 t
Stages
4
Thrust
2,261 kN
Payload LEO
1,500 kg
Payload GTO
—
Total flights
30
Success rate90.0%
27 success3 failure
Launch pads
- ZLV, Guiana Space Centre
No upcoming launches scheduled.
