Vega electromechanical actuator

Electromechanical actuators were used for the thrust vector control system of Vega's second, third and fourth stages, controlling their thrust direction during flight. Used for the first time on a European launcher, in place of the bulkier hydraulic thrust vector control system employed by Ariane 5, each stage has two actuators for orienting the rocket nozzle, an electronic control unit called the Integrated Power Distribution Unit (IPDU) and a lithium-ion battery, all linked by a cable harness.