# Vega

> retired European expendable orbital launch vehicle

**Wikidata**: [Q262629](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q262629)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vega_(rocket))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vega

## Summary
Vega is a retired European expendable orbital launch vehicle designed to deploy small payloads into low-Earth orbit. Developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and manufactured by European Launch Vehicle (ELV), it conducted its first mission in 2012 and was succeeded by the upgraded Vega C variant. Vega played a key role in launching Earth observation satellites and scientific payloads for institutional and commercial customers.

## Key Facts
- **Service Entry**: First launched on February 13, 2012 (Vega flight VV01).
- **Retirement**: Replaced by the Vega C variant; final mission (VV24) occurred in 2023.
- **Manufacturer**: European Launch Vehicle (ELV), a subsidiary of Avio.
- **Operator**: Arianespace, under ESA oversight.
- **Dimensions**: 30.1 meters tall, 3 meters in diameter, with a launch mass of 136,700 kilograms.
- **Payload Capacity**: Designed for small-lift missions, typically carrying 1.5–2.5 tons to low-Earth orbit.
- **Notable Payloads**: Deployed satellites such as Sentinel-2, LARES, and MaSat-1.
- **Design**: Four-stage rocket with solid-propellant boosters (P80, Zefiro 23, Zefiro 9A) and a liquid-fueled AVUM upper stage.
- **Launch Site**: Operated exclusively from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.

## FAQs
### Q: When did Vega make its first launch?
A: Vega’s inaugural flight (VV01) occurred on February 13, 2012, deploying the LARES satellite and two CubeSats.

### Q: Why was Vega retired?
A: Vega was phased out in favor of the upgraded Vega C variant, which offers improved performance and payload capacity.

### Q: What types of payloads did Vega typically launch?
A: Vega specialized in small payloads, including Earth observation satellites (e.g., Sentinel-2), scientific missions, and technology demonstrators.

## Why It Matters
Vega addressed the need for cost-effective, dedicated launch services for small satellites, a niche not efficiently served by larger rockets like Ariane 5. Its development bolstered European space autonomy, reducing reliance on foreign launch providers. Over 20 missions, Vega demonstrated reliability in deploying critical ESA and commercial payloads, supporting environmental monitoring, scientific research, and technology validation. Its solid-propellant design minimized operational complexity, while its four-stage configuration optimized performance for low-Earth orbit insertions. Though retired, Vega’s legacy continues through its evolved successor, Vega C, ensuring continued European competitiveness in the small-lift launch market.

## Notable For
- **Small-Lift Specialization**: Optimized for payloads under 2.5 tons, filling a critical gap in Europe’s launch capabilities.
- **Solid-Propellant Stages**: Utilized low-cost, reliable solid rocket boosters (P80, Zefiro 23, Zefiro 9A) for the first three stages.
- **Key Missions**: Launched the Sentinel-2 Earth observation constellation and the LARES gravitational physics satellite.
- **European Collaboration**: A flagship program of the ESA, involving multiple member states and industrial partners.
- **Succession**: Paved the way for the upgraded Vega C, featuring enhanced thrust and fairing volume.

## Body
### Development and Design
Vega was developed under ESA’s Launchers Programme to provide Europe with an independent small-payload launch system. Led by prime contractor ELV (now part of Avio), the rocket’s design emphasized cost efficiency and reliability through solid-propellant stages. The four-stage configuration included:
- **First Stage**: P80 solid rocket booster.
- **Second Stage**: Zefiro 23 motor.
- **Third Stage**: Zefiro 9A motor.
- **Fourth Stage**: AVUM liquid-propellant upper stage for precise orbit insertion.

### Operational History
Vega conducted 24 missions between 2012 and 2023, with a success rate exceeding 95%. Notable flights include:
- **VV01 (2012)**: Maiden launch deploying the LARES satellite.
- **VV13 (2018)**: Launched the Mohammed VI-B Earth observation satellite for Morocco.
- **VV20 (2022)**: Deployed the Pléiades Neo 5 and 6 optical imaging satellites.

### Retirement and Legacy
The final Vega mission (VV24) launched in 2023, carrying the MicroCarb greenhouse gas monitoring satellite. Vega’s retirement marked the transition to the Vega C variant, which incorporates upgraded motors and expanded payload capacity. A full-scale Vega model is preserved at the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia in Milan, Italy.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Rocket",
  "name": "Vega",
  "description": "Retired European expendable orbital launch vehicle",
  "url": "https://www.esa.int/About_Us/launch_vehicles/Vega",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q550314",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vega_(rocket)"
  ],
  "manufacturer": "European Launch Vehicle (ELV)",
  "operator": "Arianespace",
  "height": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "unitText": "metres",
    "value": 30.1
  },
  "mass": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "unitText": "kilograms",
    "value": 136700
  },
  "dateOfFirstLaunch": "2012-02-13",
  "rocketStage": [
    "P80",
    "Zefiro 23",
    "Zefiro 9A",
    "AVUM"
  ]
}

## References

1. [Source](http://www.avio.com/en/about-us/group/elv/)
2. [Source](https://www.museoscienza.org/it/collezioni/oggetti/lanciatore-vega)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Source](http://www.arianespace.com/mission/vega-flight-vv01/)
5. [Source](https://download.esa.int/docs/VEGA/Vega_PressKit_06-02-2012_EN.pdf)