spacetoday.net: Avio signs ESA contracts for Vega upgrades and Earth science satellite launch

Posted: Sat, Dec 21, 2024, 11:57 AM ET (1657 GMT)
Avio signed a set of contracts with the European Space Agency regarding its Vega rocket. Avio announced Wednesday the contracts, one of which covers upgrades to its launch site in French Guiana to enable the facility to support six Vega C launches a year, up from the four planned in 2025. A second contract continues development of the upgraded Vega E, set to make its first launch in 2027 and 2028. Those two contracts are worth about 350 million euros ($364 million). Avio also signed a launch contract with ESA for the Vega C launch of the FORUM Earth science satellite in 2027. Avio took over sales and marketing of the Vega earlier this year as part of a transition of launch service provider responsibilities from Arianespace.