Italy's Vega-C rocket to return to space on Dec. 3, Avio CEO says
Adds details, quotes from Avio CEO, details on Vega-E and background on launchers
By Giulia Segreti
MILAN, Oct 14 (Reuters) -Italy's Vega-C rocket will return to space on Dec. 3, almost two years after it failed a mission in 2022, the CEO of its manufacturer Avio AVI.MI said on Monday.
"Vega-C will be back on Dec. 3. Not only have we made the required changes, but we recently carried out two expensive ground tests to make sure it works," CEO Giulio Ranzo told Reuters.
The launch would be part of the European Union's Copernicus earth observation satellite programme.
In December 2022 the Vega rockets were grounded after the latest model failed on its second mission, destroying two Earth-imaging satellites.
Europe is facing a gap in access to space following the delays of Vega-C and a heavyweight launcher built by Airbus AIR.PA-Safran SAF.PA joint venture ArianeGroup, and the loss of access to Russia's Soyuz programme due to the war in Ukraine.
The conflict also affected Vega-C, as Avio had to replace one of its components after a Ukrainian supplier's plant was bombarded, with a slightly different one from a French company.
Avio is the prime contractor and manufacturer of the Vega-C launcher, which was previously commercialised by ArianeGroup subsidiary Arianespace. A decision that allowed Vega-C to be operated independently was "fundamental" for Avio, Ranzo said.
"(The previous situation) was an anomaly, not only was it absurd, it was not functional," he said, adding that this change would allow the group to improve the launcher.
"Before, we were wasting time and losing money," Ranzo added.
Problems with Vega-C will delay the schedule for another launcher, Vega-E, Ranzo said. Despite its testing being "at an advanced stage", the first launch is now expected between end-2027 and 2028 and not in 2026 as previously forecast, he said.
"Little has changed. The coming years are full of launches, and we are well-equipped for the future," he added. There will be four launches next year and the order portfolio is "very full, with launches until end-2028", he said.
Reporting by Giulia Segreti, editing by Gianluca Semeraro and Jan Harvey
Mga Kaugnay na Asset
Pinakabagong Balita
Disclaimer: Ang mga kabilang sa XM Group ay nagbibigay lang ng serbisyo sa pagpapatupad at pag-access sa aming Online Trading Facility, kung saan pinapahintulutan nito ang pagtingin at/o paggamit sa nilalaman na makikita sa website o sa pamamagitan nito, at walang layuning palitan o palawigin ito, at hindi din ito papalitan o papalawigin. Ang naturang pag-access at paggamit ay palaging alinsunod sa: (i) Mga Tuntunin at Kundisyon; (ii) Mga Babala sa Risk; at (iii) Kabuuang Disclaimer. Kaya naman ang naturang nilalaman ay ituturing na pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang. Mangyaring isaalang-alang na ang mga nilalaman ng aming Online Trading Facility ay hindi paglikom, o alok, para magsagawa ng anumang transaksyon sa mga pinansyal na market. Ang pag-trade sa alinmang pinansyal na market ay nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng risk sa iyong kapital.
Lahat ng materyales na nakalathala sa aming Online Trading Facility ay nakalaan para sa layuning edukasyonal/pang-impormasyon lamang at hindi naglalaman – at hindi dapat ituring bilang naglalaman – ng payo at rekomendasyon na pangpinansyal, tungkol sa buwis sa pag-i-invest, o pang-trade, o tala ng aming presyo sa pag-trade, o alok para sa, o paglikom ng, transaksyon sa alinmang pinansyal na instrument o hindi ginustong pinansyal na promosyon.
Sa anumang nilalaman na galing sa ikatlong partido, pati na ang mga nilalaman na inihanda ng XM, ang mga naturang opinyon, balita, pananaliksik, pag-analisa, presyo, ibang impormasyon o link sa ibang mga site na makikita sa website na ito ay ibibigay tulad ng nandoon, bilang pangkalahatang komentaryo sa market at hindi ito nagtataglay ng payo sa pag-i-invest. Kung ang alinmang nilalaman nito ay itinuring bilang pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, kailangan mong isaalang-alang at tanggapin na hindi ito inilaan at inihanda alinsunod sa mga legal na pangangailangan na idinisenyo para maisulong ang pagsasarili ng pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, at dahil dito ituturing ito na komunikasyon sa marketing sa ilalim ng mga kaugnay na batas at regulasyon. Mangyaring siguruhin na nabasa at naintindihan mo ang aming Notipikasyon sa Hindi Independyenteng Pananaliksik sa Pag-i-invest at Babala sa Risk na may kinalaman sa impormasyong nakalagay sa itaas, na maa-access dito.
