Vega-C (LARES 2) [ESA]
Vega-C is an improved version of the Vega rocket family.
This new version introduces some new motors. The first stage will consist of the P120C motor, which will also be used for the Ariane-6 launcher. As second stage, the larger diameter Zefiro-Z40 will be introduced. The third stage is an updated version, while the AVUM will get 150 kg more fuel, 100 kg less in structural mass and will be called AVUM+. A new 3.3 m fairing is also introduced.
Vega-C was planned for a maiden flight in 2019, but was eventually delayed to 2022.
The Vega launch vehicles are launched from the refurbished ELA-1 complex, now redesignated ELV, at Kourou.
Version | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vega-C | P120C | Zefiro-Z40 | Zefiro-Z9A | AVUM+ / RD-843 |
Performance (kg) | LEO | LPEO | SSO | GTO | GEO | MolO | IP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vega-C | 2300 | - | - | - | - |
No: TNr: Type: Serial: Date: LS Payload
1 1 Vega-C VV21 13.07.2022 Ko ELV LARES 2 / AstroBio CubeSat / GreenCube / TRISAT R / CELESTA / MTCube 2 / ALPHA 2 2 Vega-C VV22 21.12.2022 Ko ELV F Pléiades-Neo 5 / Pléiades-Neo 6 Planned: x x Vega-C xx.xx.2024 Ko ELV Biomass x x Vega-C xx.xx.2026 Ko ELV ClearSpace 1 xx x Vega-C . xx.xx.2025 Ko ELV CO2M A (Sentinel 7A) xx x Vega-C . xx.xx.2026 Ko ELV CO2M B (Sentinel 7B) x x Vega-C ? xx.xx.2024 Ko ELV CO3D 1 / CO3D 2 / CO3D 3 / CO3D 4 / ? x x Vega-C xx.xx.2024 Ko ELV CSG 3 x x Vega-C xx.xx.2024 Ko ELV EarthCARE x x Vega-C xx.xx.2025 Ko ELV FLEX / ALTIUS x x Vega-C xx.xx.2023 Ko ELV KOMPSAT 6 x x Vega-C xx.xx.2023 Ko ELV KOMPSAT 7 x x Vega-C xx.xx.2023 Ko ELV NAOS 3 3 Vega-C xx.4Q.2023 Ko ELV Sentinel 1C x x Vega-C . xx.2H.2024 Ko ELV Sentinel 1D x x Vega-C . xx.xx.2024 Ko ELV Sentinel 2C x x Vega-C . xx.xx.2024 Ko ELV Sentinel 3C x x Vega-C xx.xx.2025 Ko ELV SMILE x x Vega-C xx.xx.2023 Ko ELV THEOS 2 HR Rideshare payloads (unassigned): TBD: MicroCarb; StriX TBD; TRITON Launch sites: Ko = Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG), Kourou, French Guiana* = Suborbital