Enabling & Support

Vega development milestones

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ESA / Enabling & Support / Space Transportation / Launch vehicles / Vega first launch

Europe’s new Vega small launcher lifted off for the first time on 13 February 2012. After nine years of development, the four-stage vehicle completed its inaugural flight.

Approved by ESA Council in June 1998, Vega was already set to launch six ESA missions: Proba-V, Aeolus, LISA Pathfinder, Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 and the Intermediate Experimental Vehicle (IXV).

13 February 2012	ESA’s new Vega launcher scores success on maiden flight
14 December 2011	ESA and Arianespace sign contract to study the launch of IXV on Vega, as part of the VERTA programme
14 December 2011	First commercial launch contracts signed for the Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 satellites, now scheduled for launch in 2014–16
7 November 2011	First launch campaign begins
14 October 2011	Flight Readiness Review
April 2011	Completion of simulated launch campaign
11 February 2011	Full-scale Vega mock-up assembled on launch pad
28 April 2009	Zefiro-9A second ground firing test (success)
23 October 2008	Zefiro-9A first ground firing test (success)
27 March 2008	Zefiro-23 second ground firing test (success)
4 December 2007	P80 second ground firing test (success)
28 March 2007	Zefiro-9 second ground firing test (failure)
21 December 2006	Critical Design Review
30 November 2006	P80 first ground firing test (success)
26 June 2006	Zefiro-23 first ground firing test (success)
20 December 2005	Zefiro-9 first ground firing test (success)
20 October 2004	Building of Vega launch site begins
25 February 2003	ESA contracts ELV to complete launcher development
June 2002	Preliminary Design Review
21 February 2001	ASI and Fiat Avio incorporate ELV SpA
15 December 2000	Vega Small Launcher Development programme and P80 Advanced Solid Propulsion Stage Demonstrator programme formally approved
17 June 1999	Zefiro-16 second ground firing test (success)
24 June 1998	ESA Council approves Vega programme
22 June 1998	Zefiro-16 first ground firing test (success)