# The Concluding Journey of Europe’s Vega Rocket: A Landmark in Space Exploration
The European Space Agency (ESA) is poised for a momentous occasion in its history of space exploration—the concluding flight of the Vega rocket. Set to launch on Wednesday night from the spaceport located in Kourou, French Guiana, this mission signifies the conclusion of an era for the Vega rocket, which has functioned as a dependable asset for European space endeavors over the previous 12 years.
## The Mission Ahead
The last Vega rocket will transport a critical payload: the Sentinel-2C satellite, part of the European Union’s Copernicus initiative. The launch is anticipated for 9:50 pm EDT on Wednesday (01:50 UTC Thursday), with the rocket targeting a polar orbit roughly 480 miles (775 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface. The Sentinel-2C satellite aims to succeed Sentinel-2A, which has been operational since 2015 and is approaching the end of its active lifespan. This satellite will continue the essential task of observing Earth’s land surfaces, oceans, and atmosphere, offering vital data for environmental monitoring and climate change studies.
Managed by the European Commission, the Copernicus program represents the globe’s most extensive space-based Earth observation network. Data obtained by Sentinel-2C and other Copernicus satellites is freely distributed to users worldwide, serving as an invaluable resource for researchers, policymakers, and environmental advocates.
## The Vega Rocket: A Historical Overview
The Vega rocket, reaching a height of 98 feet (30 meters), was developed by Avio, an Italian aerospace firm. It comprises three solid-fueled rocket motors and a liquid-fueled upper stage known as the AVUM (Attitude Vernier Upper Module). The rocket has the ability to deliver payloads of up to 3,300 pounds (1,500 kilograms) into a 435-mile-high (700-kilometer) orbit.
Since its inaugural flight in 2012, the Vega rocket has successfully conducted 21 missions, primarily launching satellites for the European Space Agency and various European governmental bodies. Despite its initial promise, the Vega rocket found it challenging to establish a presence in the commercial launch sector, averaging only two launches annually. Its notable achievements include deploying Earth observation satellites for nations such as Kazakhstan, Peru, Turkey, and Morocco.
However, the credibility of the Vega rocket was called into question following two high-profile failures. In 2019, a Vega rocket experienced a failure during the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite intended for the United Arab Emirates, curtailing a series of 14 consecutive successful launches. The following year, another Vega rocket could not reach orbit, resulting in the loss of two satellites from Spain and France. These setbacks, along with mounting competition in the commercial launch arena, fostered the development of the Vega-C rocket, a more robust successor meant to manage heavier payloads.
## The Shift to Vega-C
The Vega-C rocket, which achieved its inaugural launch in July 2022, signifies the next phase in Europe’s space exploration capabilities. With a stronger booster stage and a broader payload fairing, the Vega-C can transport 50% more payload mass into orbit compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the rocket is engineered to be more economical, featuring a reduced cost per kilogram of payload.
Nevertheless, the Vega-C program has encountered its own obstacles. The rocket faltered on its second flight in December 2022, which led engineers to rework the nozzle for the second-stage solid rocket motor. The Vega-C is expected to return to operational status in late November 2024, transporting the European Commission’s Sentinel-1C satellite, another vital element of the Copernicus program.
## Obstacles and Future Perspectives
The concluding flight of the Vega rocket presents its own challenges. Late last year, Avio identified that two of the four AVUM propellant tanks for the final Vega launch were unaccounted for and later discovered crushed in a landfill. With no alternative tanks available that could fit the Vega upper stage and the original supplier based in Russia, Avio faced a significant problem. Ultimately, the company opted to utilize a set of larger tanks made for the AVUM+ upper stage employed in the Vega-C rocket. This adjustment necessitated modifications to the structure of the upper stage, but Avio successfully executed the required tests to certify the larger tanks for launch.
As Avio takes charge of marketing and sales for the Vega initiative from Arianespace, the firm is positioning itself to assume a more autonomous role in the European launch sector. The Italian government has pledged considerable funding to Avio for the creation of a new methane-fueled first-stage engine and a prototype for a partially reusable rocket that could potentially replace the Vega-C.
## Conclusion
The final flight of the Vega rocket signifies the conclusion of an important chapter in European space exploration. While the rocket faced hurdles in the commercial landscape and encountered some notable failures, it also recorded impressive achievements and laid the groundwork for the creation of more advanced launch systems.
