Vega: ESA's new small launcher

Building Costs are being kept to a minimum by using advanced low-cost technologies and existing production facilities used for Ariane launchers, making access to space easier, quicker and cheaper.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Technology
• European Space Agency
• ESA
• Space
• Vega
• Engineering
• Vega launcher
• Space technology
• Tecnologies

[OMBspa]

@ti994apc This is an Italian project which was then partially sold to the ESA. Italy owns 70% of the project, France 10%. It has the same capacity 'load dell'Arianne. To reduce costs, only the fourth stage has liquid propellant.

It's cost efficent.

[ti994apc]

@hkostal Another dumb-ed down rocket that uses Estes solid rocket engines (like SLS, AresI, Shuttle, and Ariane). I am glad we still have real rocket scientists somewhere that make liquid fueled rockets with real rocket engines (Falcon9, Soyuz, some Atlas, some Delta). We will never have advances with solid rocket fuel, its like lighting a match and it burns. At least with liquid fuel one can make engine improvements, thrust to weight improvements, try new types of propellant, etc..

[hkostal]

Am I wrong, or is using really using solid booster "technology"?

So they speak of space buisness and provide fireworks.

[Winner8501]

@bb4aa

Not necessarily. ICBMs used for this purpose are usually old, liquid-fuelled and their reliability is questionable.

This rocket is meant to be small, cheap, reliable and most of all, European. With Vega, ESA will have launchers for every purpose and every payload.

Plus, there is a possibility that the technologies used in Vega will eventually be used in Ariane-5's solid rocket boosters, making them lighter (due to the use of composites instead of steel) and thus more effective.

[bb4aa]

This small rocket is only able to lift 1.5 tons to low earth orbit. First flight should be 2010.

No manned flight is possible. Even the number of payload will be quiet limited for that rocket.

If this rocket is necessary is questionable, because the USA and Russia are using their old intercontinental rocket as base for cheap and reliable launches of the same magnitude. So they can always be cheaper.

[clayzee001]

cool! is this luanch vehicle going to be used for future manned missions?

[FubarAndBoner]

Great work,