Avio has announced the signing of substantial contracts with the European Space Agency (ESA). These agreements cover upgrades to the Vega rocket and its associated launch facilities, as well as the launch of a crucial Earth science mission. The total value of the contracts is approximately 350 million euros ($364 million).
One key aspect of the contracts focuses on increasing the launch rate of the Vega C rocket and advancing the development of its upgraded successor, the Vega E. A significant portion of the funding will be used to convert a former Ariane 5 integration building at the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. This conversion will enable Avio to conduct two parallel launch campaigns, substantially boosting launch capacity. “This will greatly enhance capacity,” Giulio Ranzo, chief executive of Avio, stated in an interview. Avio plans four Vega C launches in 2025 utilizing existing infrastructure, but the new integration building is expected to facilitate an increase to six annual launches.
Another contract will support the continued development of the Vega E. This upgraded version incorporates the Zefiro-40 second-stage motor from the Vega C but replaces the P120 first-stage motor with the more powerful P160. The two upper stages of the Vega C will be replaced by a single M10 upper stage utilizing a liquid-oxygen/methane engine. This development will proceed until the rocket's final ground qualification, with Avio aiming for a first launch in 2027 or 2028. Ranzo highlights the Vega E's improved payload performance – 3 metric tons to low Earth orbit compared to 2.3 tons for the Vega C – at a similar cost.
Furthermore, Avio secured a contract to launch ESA's Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring (FORUM) mission, scheduled for launch in 2027 aboard a Vega C. This mission will study the impact of water vapor and ice clouds on climate by measuring far-infrared emissions from Earth.
These contracts signify Avio's assumed responsibility for marketing the Vega rocket, a gradual transition from Arianespace, expected to conclude by the end of 2025. While ESA characterized the contract as a transfer, Ranzo clarified it's a new agreement, representing Avio's first post-sales takeover contract. A “deed of transfer” for all previously signed Arianespace Vega launch contracts was also executed simultaneously.
The contracts follow the successful return to flight of the Vega C, launching the Sentinel-1C satellite on December 5th. Ranzo emphasized the "incredibly good" performance, noting the highly accurate orbital insertion of Sentinel-1C, with the customer expressing satisfaction due to the extended life expectancy of the satellite resulting from the precise orbital injection. He concluded by stating that the Vega C's success underscores its capabilities when properly manufactured and integrated.
The next Vega C launch is anticipated for late March or early April, carrying ESA’s Biomass Earth science satellite.