The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch its lightweight Vega-C rocket on Wednesday at 4:20 p.m. ET from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The rocket will carry the Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite to a Sun-synchronous orbit.
Vega-C suffered a mission failure during its second flight in December 2022, resulting in the loss of its payload. However, after two years and millions spent on redesigning the motor nozzle, the rocket is now ready for its comeback.
The Vega-C rocket was developed by ESA and built by Italian company Avio. It has a more powerful first and second stage than its predecessor, Vega, as well as an improved re-ignitable upper stage. The rocket can deliver 3.3 metric tons to low Earth orbit and 2.2 metric tons to polar orbit.
The launch will be streamed live on ESA Web TV, with the broadcast set to begin at 4 p.m. ET. This mission marks Vega-C’s third flight, making it a crucial test for Europe’s space industry, which has been experiencing a dry spell in recent years.
Vega-C’s return to flight follows the debut flight of Ariane 6, Europe’s next-generation rocket, which experienced a less-than-ideal inaugural launch in July. The Ariane 6’s second mission has now slipped to early next year.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/watch-vega-c-rocket-make-a-long-awaited-return-after-2022-disaster-2000534150