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43-660: Approved for development by the European Space Agency (ESA) in December 2014, Vega   C was designed to accommodate larger institutional payloads and compete effectively in the commercial launch market. Initially marketed and operated by Arianespace , the ESA decided in August 2024 to empower Avio to directly commercialize Vega   C and seek non-governmental customers. This transition is anticipated to be complete by

86-400: A small-lift rocket , and Ariane 6 , a medium -to- heavy-lift rocket. Arianespace is a subsidiary of ArianeGroup , a joint venture between Airbus and Safran . European space launches are carried out as a collaborative effort between private companies and government agencies. The role of Arianespace is to market Ariane 6 launch services, prepare missions, and manage customer relations. At

129-630: A launch system tailored for missions to polar and Sun-synchronous orbits. During 2002, the ESA announced the Arianespace Soyuz programme in cooperation with Russia ; a launch site for Soyuz was constructed as the Guiana Space Centre , while the Soyuz launch vehicle was modified for use at the site. On 4 February 2005, both funding and final approval for the initiative were granted. Arianespace had offered launch services on

172-449: A major customer of Arianespace, stated that: "Each year that passes will see SpaceX advance, gain market share and further reduce its costs through economies of scale ." By September 2014, Arianespace had reportedly to sign four additional contracts for lower slots on an Ariane 5 SYLDA dispenser for satellites that otherwise could be flown on a SpaceX launch vehicle; this was claimed to have been allowed via cost reductions; it had signed

215-515: A one-year contract with the ESA to study and prepare for a mission to the Moon to mine regolith . In 2020, Arianespace suspended operations for nearly two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Operations were suspended on 18 March and are, as of 29 April, expected to resume on 11 May. The return to operations will observe a number of new health and safety guidelines including social distancing in

258-473: A total of 11 contracts by that point, while two additional ones that were under advanced negotiations. At the time, Arianespace has a backlog of launches worth €4.5 billion with 38 satellites to be launched on Ariane 5 , 7 on Soyuz and 9 on Vega , claiming 60% of the global satellite launch market. However, since 2017, Arianespace's market share has been passed by SpaceX in commercial launches. Currently, Arianespace operates three launch vehicles: Since

301-689: Is replaced by the more powerful P120C , which is also used as a booster on the Ariane 6 launcher, allowing development costs to be shared. The second stage is the upgraded Zefiro 40 . While the AVUM+ upper stage remains largely unchanged, it carries a larger propellant load. The third stage, Zefiro 9 , remains the same. Vega rockets are launched from the ELV launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre . The Vega   C's maiden flight on 13 July 2022 successfully delivered LARES 2 and six other satellites to orbit. However,

344-476: Is tasked with developing and manufacturing the Ariane 6 carrier rocket. Industrial groups Airbus and Safran pooled their shares along with the French government's CNES stake to form a partnership company holding just under 74% of Arianespace shares, while the remaining 26% is spread across suppliers in nine countries including further Airbus subsidiaries. By 2004, Arianespace reportedly held more than 50% of

387-693: The Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in French Guiana , the company oversees the team responsible for integrating and preparing launch vehicles. The rockets themselves are designed and manufactured by other companies: ArianeGroup for the Ariane 6 and Avio for the Vega. The launch infrastructure at the CSG is owned by the European Space Agency , while the land itself belongs to and is managed by CNES ,

430-470: The H10+ , was adopted for the Ariane 4, which raised the rocket's overall payload capacity by 110 kg and increased its burn time by 20 seconds. Even prior to the first flight of the Ariane 4 in 1988, development of a successor, designated as the Ariane 5 , had already commenced. In January 1985, the Ariane 5 was officially adopted as an ESA programme, and began an eleven-year development and test program to

473-423: The Ariane launcher quickly mounted up; by early 1984, a total of 27 satellites had been booked to use Ariane, which was estimated to be half of the world's market at that time. As a result of the commercial success, after the tenth Ariane mission was flown, the ESA formally transferred responsibility for Ariane over to Arianespace. By early 1986, the Ariane 1, along with its Ariane 2 and Ariane 3 derivates, were

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516-479: The ESA and CNES; Italy provided 65 per cent of funding while six additional nations contributed the remainder. In May 2004, it was reported that a contract was signed between commercial operator Arianespace and prime contractor ELV to perform vehicle integration at Kourou , French Guiana . On 13 February 2012, the first launch of the Vega took place; it was reported as being an "apparently perfect flight". Since entering commercial service, Arianespace markets Vega as

559-411: The French national space agency. As of May 2021 , Arianespace had launched more than 850 satellites in 287 missions spanning 41 years. The company's first commercial launch was Spacenet 1 , which took place on 23 May 1984. In addition to its facilities at the CSG, the company's main offices are in Évry-Courcouronnes , a suburb of Paris . The formation of Arianespace SA is closely associated with

602-519: The Vega family with the Zefiro 9 and AVUM+ third and fourth stage replaced with a single upper stage powered by liquid oxygen and liquid methane . This design would enable multiple satellites to be launched into different orbits on a single launch. The engine for this new upper stage, the M10 , was the result of a collaboration between Avio and Chemical Automatics Design Bureau (KBKhA). Successful testing of

645-578: The Vega-Evolution program returning to the original target thrust of 10t. Objectives were finalizing development of main subsystems such as turbopumps , valves , igniter , thrust vectoring and a new ALM 3D printed Thrust Chamber Assembly (TCA). A subscale model of the TCA was tested successfully on 13 November 2018 in Colleferro , Italy. In February 2020 a full scale engine prototype with

688-514: The brightest star in the constellation Lyra , the rocket is a single-body launcher (no strap-on boosters ) with three solid and one liquid stage. While Avio of Italy leads the Vega program, contributions come from companies in Belgium , France , the Netherlands , Spain , Switzerland and Ukraine . Vega   C features several key advancements over the original Vega. The first stage

731-511: The collaboration, ended in 2008, aimed at designing a concept for a 10t thrust LOx - LNG engine . The second phase of the collaboration focused instead on designing, manufacturing and testing a 7.5t thrust LM10-MIRA demonstrator engine. The engine was successfully tested in June 2014 in Voronezh , Russia . After the end of the collaboration with KBKhA, Avio continued the development of M10 under

774-477: The desire of several European nations to pursue joint collaboration in the field of space exploration and the formation of a pan-national organisation, the European Space Agency (ESA), to oversee such undertaking during 1973. Prior to the ESA's formation, France had been lobbying for the development of a new European expendable launch system to serve as a replacement for the Europa rocket. Accordingly, one of

817-467: The dominant launcher on the world market. The Ariane 2 and Ariane 3 were short-lived platforms while the more extensive Ariane 4 was being developed; it was a considerably larger and more flexible launcher that the earlier members of its family, having been intended from the onset to compete with the upper end of launchers worldwide. In comparison, while the Ariane 1 had a typical weight of 207 tonnes and could launch payloads of up to 1.7 tonnes into orbit;

860-516: The end of 2025. Arianespace "is the marketing and sales organization for the European space industry and various component suppliers." The primary shareholders of Arianespace are its suppliers , in various European nations. Arianespace had 24 shareholders in 2008, 21 in 2014, and just 17 as of October 2018 . In 2015, Arianespace shareholding was restructured due to the creation of Airbus Safran Launchers (later renamed ArianeGroup), which

903-445: The end of 2025. Vega   C, like its predecessor, is designed to launch small satellites for scientific and Earth observation missions to polar and sun-synchronous low Earth orbits. The reference Vega   C mission places a 2,300-kilogram (5,100 lb) spacecraft into a 700-kilometre (430 mi) polar orbit, representing an 800-kilogram (1,800 lb) or 60% increase over the original Vega.   Named after Vega ,

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946-491: The engine was conducted in 2022, and the maiden flight of Vega   E is anticipated in 2027. Avio also plans to develop a new methane-fueled first-stage engine with plans to introduce a partially reusable rocket to eventually replace the Vega. Arianespace Arianespace SA is a French company founded in March 1980 as the world's first commercial launch service provider . It operates two launch vehicles : Vega C ,

989-515: The escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict and consequent economic sanctions . On May 6, 2022 engine testing campaign started at Salto di Quirra , Sardinia , with consequent maiden flight on a Vega-E launcher expected by 2026 from Guiana Space Centre . The M10 engine is the first operational European methane rocket engine, conceived for use on upper stages of future Vega-E and Vega-E Light launchers, in which will replace both

1032-483: The first launch in 1979, there have been several versions of the Ariane launch vehicle : M10 (rocket engine) M10 is a liquid-fuel upper-stage rocket engine in development by Avio on behalf of European Space Agency for use on Vega E . The engine, initially known as LM10-MIRA, was a derivation of the existing Russian RD-0146 engine and result of a past collaboration between Avio and Chemical Automatics Design Bureau (KBKhA) ended in 2014 after

1075-418: The first launch in 1996. It lacked the high levels of commonality that the Ariane 4 had with its predecessors, and had been designed not only for launching heavier payloads of up to 5.2 tonnes and at a 20 per cent cost reduction over the Ariane 4, but for a higher margin of safety due to the fact that the Ariane 5 was designed to conduct crewed space launches as well, being intended to transport astronauts using

1118-430: The first programmes launched by the ESA was the Ariane heavy launcher. The express purpose of this launcher was to facilitate the delivery of commercial satellites into geosynchronous orbit . France was the largest stakeholder in the Ariane development programme. French aerospace manufacturer Aérospatiale served as the prime contractor and held responsibility for performing the integration of all sections of

1161-463: The larger Ariane 4 had a typical weight of 470 tonnes and could orbit payloads of up to 4.2 tonnes. Despite this, the Ariane 4 was actually 15 per cent smaller than the Ariane 3. On 15 June 1988, the first successful launch of the Ariane 4 was conducted. This maiden flight was considered a success, having placed multiple satellites into orbit. For the V50 launch onwards, an improved third stage, known as

1204-442: The modified Soyuz ST-B to its clients. On 21 October 2011, Arianespace launched the first Soyuz rocket ever from outside former Soviet territory. The payload consisted of two Galileo navigation satellites. Since 2011, Arianespace has ordered a total of 23 Soyuz rockets, enough to cover its needs until 2019 at a pace of three to four launches per year. On 21 January 2019, ArianeGroup and Arianespace announced that it had signed

1247-422: The payload volume of the original Vega, which had a fairing of 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) in diameter and over 7.8 m (26 ft) tall. This timeline of a typical Vega   C ascent profile and associated sequence of events includes two AVUM+ boosts. However, the flight profile is optimized for each mission. Building on Vega   C, the Vega   E (or Vega Evolution) is a further development of

1290-462: The prime contractor, and also builds the Zefiro 40, Zefiro 9 and AVUM+ stages. Europropulsion, a 50-50 joint venture of Avio and ArianeGroup , builds the P120C first stage. Dutch Space of the Netherlands builds the interstage between the first and second stages. CIRA builds the interstage between the second and third stages. RUAG of Switzerland builds the payload fairing. SABCA of Belgium builds

1333-415: The proposed Hermes space vehicle . Development of the Ariane 5 was not without controversy as some ESA members considered the mature Ariane 4 platform to be more suited for meeting established needs for such launchers; it was reportedly for this reason that Britain chose not to participate in the Ariane 5 programme. For several years, Ariane 4 and Ariane 5 launchers were operated interchangeably; however, it

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1376-509: The rocket was still in development, with the aim of increase performance, reduce costs and move away from toxic hydrazine fuels. The study proposed a new three-stage version of the rocket named Lyra with a liquid oxygen-methane upper stage. In 2007 Avio and KBKhA started the collaboration for the development of such an engine under an agreement signed between Italian and Russian governments in Moscow on November 28, 2000. The first phase of

1419-413: The second launch on 21 December 2022 experienced a failure of the Zefiro 40 second stage, resulting in the loss of two Pléiades Neo Earth-imaging satellites. Consequently, the next launch was delayed until late 2024 to allow for the rocket motor nozzle to be redesigned. Building the Vega is a European multi-national effort led by Avio of Italy , which manages Vega development and oversees production as

1462-462: The solid-fueled Zefiro 3rd stage and hydrazine-fueled AVUM 4th upper stage. An industrial team directed by Avio with companies of Austria , Belgium , France , Czech Republic , Romania and Switzerland will manufacture the engine. The M10 minimum thrust requirements are a thrust of 98 kN (22,000 lbf) with a propellant mixture ratio of 3.4 and a minimum specific impulse of 362s. A feasibility study on improving Vega began in 2004, when

1505-551: The third stage was a major focus point for the project - prior to Ariane, only the United States had ever flown a launcher that utilised hydrogen-powered upper stages. Immediately following the successful first test launch of an Ariane 1 on 24 December 1979, the French space agency Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES) and the ESA created a new company, Arianespace , for the purpose of promoting, marketing, and managing Ariane operations. According to Arianespace, at

1548-466: The thrust vector control systems. Arianespace had indicated that the Vega   C launcher is able to carry 2,300 kg (5,100 lb) to a circular polar orbit at an altitude of 700 km (430 mi). Because of its ability to carry heavier payloads, RUAG Space of Switzerland had to redesign the fairing of the Vega   C. The fairing is 3.3 m (11 ft) in diameter and over 9 m (30 ft) tall, which offers nearly double

1591-436: The time of its establishment, it was the world's first launch services company. Following a further three test launches, the first commercial launch took place on 10 September 1982, which ended in failure as a result of a turbopump having failed in the third stage. The six remaining flights of the Ariane 1 were successful, with the final flight occurring during February 1986. As a result of these repeated successes, orders for

1634-416: The vehicle, while French engine manufacturer Société Européenne de Propulsion (SEP) provided the first, second and third stage engines (the third stage engines were produced in partnership with German aerospace manufacturer MBB ). Other major companies involved included the French firms Air Liquide and Matra , Swedish manufacturer Volvo , and German aircraft producer Dornier Flugzeugwerke . Development of

1677-488: The workplace. In 2023, Ariane 5 was retired with the introduction of new Ariane 6 , that conducted its maiden flight on 9 July 2024. In August 2024, the ESA agreed to allow Avio —the prime contractor for the ESA-funded Vega —to directly commercialize Vega C and seek non-governmental customers. Arianespace had handled marketing of Vega launches prior to that time. The transition is anticipated to be complete by

1720-447: The world market for boosting satellites to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). During the 2010s, the disruptive force represented by the new sector entrant SpaceX forced Arianespace to cut back on its workforce and focus on cost-cutting to decrease costs to remain competitive against the new low-cost entrant in the launch sector. In the midst of pricing pressure from such companies, during November 2013, Arianespace announced that it

1763-587: Was considering requesting additional subsidies from European governments to face competition from SpaceX and unfavorable changes in the Euro-Dollar exchange rate. The company had halved subsidy support by €100m per year since 2002 but the fall in the value of the US Dollar meant Arianespace was losing €60m per year due to currency fluctuations on launch contracts. SpaceX had reportedly begun to take market share from Arianespace, Eutelsat CEO Michel de Rosen ,

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1806-426: Was enacting pricing flexibility for the "lighter satellites" that it carries to Geostationary orbits aboard its Ariane 5. According to Arianespace's managing director: "It's quite clear there's a very significant challenge coming from SpaceX (...) therefore things have to change (...) and the whole European industry is being restructured, consolidated, rationalised and streamlined." During early 2014, Arianespace

1849-498: Was eventually decided to terminate all Ariane 4 operations in favour of concentrating on the newer Ariane 5. During the mid-1990s, French firms Aérospatiale and SEP, along with Italian firm Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino (BPD), held discussions on the development of a proposed Ariane Complementary Launcher (ACL). Simultaneously, Italy championed the concept of a new solid-propellant satellite launcher, referred to as Vega . During March 2003, contracts for Vega's development were signed by

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