Initial post-test review indicates that the new nozzle assembly performed as expected throughout the scheduled  94 seconds burning time of the test, simulating a nominal in-flight performance The Zefiro-40 is a 7.6 m tall rocket motor, loaded with over 36 tons of solid propellant. For this test the motor was installed on its horizontal test bench. Zefiro-40 is developed and manufactured by Avio in their Colleferro factory near Rome, Italy. A second  firing test will be conducted after the summer to confirm the data collected today. Avio engineers will review the data from the first test to prepare for a second test in October that will then qualify the second stage Zefiro-40 solid rocket motor for return-to-flight by end 2024 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Vega C is a 35 m high launcher with a mass at liftoff of 210 000 kg. It can place about 2300 kg into a polar orbit. Vega C can accommodate a mix of cargo shapes and sizes, ranging from CubeSats as small as one kilogram up to a single large payload. From Vega to Vega C Vega C is the larger evolution of the Vega family of rockets. The original Vega was launched in 2012 and has flown 21 times since. The last Vega flight is scheduled this summer, after which the model will be retired and Vega-C will take over. The smaller Vega variant does not use the Zefiro-40 stage. ESA is responsible for the Vega C launch system qualification and also purchases launch services for European institutional missions. The Vega C development programme was carried out with participation of thirteen ESA Member States, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.The Agency is the contracting authority for the development of Vega-C, supports both the development and exploitation, while also providing technical supervision based on its 30 years of experience. Avio is the prime contractor and design authority of the Veg -C launchers. Arianespace is the launch service provider.

This agreement is part of the new context of fostering competition within the European space system, as emphasized at the Seville summit in 2023, with the objective to both stimulate new European launch service solutions, through ESA’s Boost programme, and to provide regular opportunities of affordable and responsive launch services for selected IOD/IOV missions and possibly other EU missions. Through this framework agreement, the principle is to be prepared to provide launch opportunities during the period 2024-2026 for IOD/IOV missions selected by the European Commission and ESA, among the demonstration missions proposed by operators, manufacturers, or institutions across Europe. Under the European Flight Ticket Initiative project, Arianespace will offer innovative rideshare launch services for small satellites, showcasing their importance, impact, and capabilities in the market. By leveraging established space entities like Arianespace and emerging alternative operators, the goal of European space institutions is to unite the strengths of our ecosystem to ensure autonomous and sustainable access to space for the European Union and ESA member countries.