Vega elements

Vega is a 3 m-diameter single-body vehicle, standing 30 m tall with a liftoff mass of 137 tonnes. It has three solid-propellant stages and a liquid-propellant upper module for attitude and orbit control, and satellite release.

As well as single satellites, Vega can deliver multiple payloads into different orbits.

The VEga Secondary Payload Adapter, Vespa, housed in the fairing at the top of the rocket, can carry a 1000 kg main satellite on top, and either a secondary payload of 600 kg in the internal cone, or several auxiliary payloads totalling 600 kg distributed on a platform.

A complex multiple firing strategy by the upper stage ensures that the satellites are released into their planned orbits.

This was first demonstrated on Vega’s second Verta flight (VV02) in May 2013. Three satellites were delivered into two different orbits involving a change in inclination.