Vega poised for launch

Vega poised for liftoff with the mobile gantry retracted from the launch pad at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on 16 August 2021. 

Vega awaits flight VV19 with Earth observation satellite Pléiades Neo-4 and four auxiliary payloads: SunStorm, RadCube and LEDSAT developed through ESA, and BRO-4.

In the foreground is the flame trench which channels the exhaust away from the launch pad at liftoff. To the left is the mobile gantry which was retracted before launch. Four lightning masts surround the launch pad. Vega stands poised for launch and is kept topped up with fuel and ready for launch via umbilicals which detach at the moment of liftoff.