Today ESA signed a contract with the ELV company for
completion of the development phase of the Vega European
small launcher programme, and CNES signed, on behalf of
ESA, a contract with FiatAvio for development of the P80
advanced solid propulsion stage and demonstrator.

The contracts were signed in Colleferro (Rome), on
the FiatAvio industrial park, in the presence of
representatives of the Italian Government, ESA, ASI,
Arianespace, CNES and ELV.

Step 1 of the Vega small launcher programme was decided
by the ESA Council in June 1998. Funding for both
the Vega and P80 programmes was approved by the
participating states in December 2000.

Italy is the leading contributor to the Vega programme
with 65 %, other participants being Belgium (5.63%),
France (12.43%), the Netherlands (3.5%), Spain (5%),
Sweden (0.8%) and Switzerland (1.34%). Belgium, France,
Italy and the Netherlands are also contributing to the
P80 programme.

ELV is the prime contractor for the Vega launcher. Its
shareholders are FiatAvio (70%) and the Italian space
agency, ASI (30%). FiatAvio is the prime contractor
for the P80.

The Vega small launcher configuration consists of 3
solid stages: the P80 first stage, the Zefiro 23 second
stage, the Zefiro 9 third stage and an upper liquid
propulsion module, called AVUM.

Vega???s target lift capability is 1500 kg and it will
inject its payload into a circular orbit at 700 km
altitude. The launch base to be used for Vega is
the European Spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana.

Arianespace will be the commercial operator for Vega.
The first qualification launch is planned for
mid-2006, with an expected frequency of 3 to 4 launches
a year.

The P80 has twofold objectives: to serve as the first
stage of the launcher and to develop new technologies
for the future A5 solid booster.

An integrated project team (IPT), comprising staff
from ESA and the Italian and French space agencies
(ASI and CNES), will manage the Vega launcher contract
and ensure overall system coherence. It is to be
located at the ESA establishment near Rome, ESRIN.

The P80 contract will be managed, under the authority
of the IPT, by CNES through a dedicated project team,
including ESA and ASI staff. The P80 team is to be
located at the CNES establishment in Evry, near Paris.

The values of these development contracts are:
EUR 221M for the Vega launcher, and EUR 40M for the P80.

For further information, please contact:

Simonetta Cheli
ESA/ESRIN
Tel: +39.06.9418.0350
Fax: +39.06.9418.0352

Related news

* An invitation to meet Vega
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/ESAVS2V9EYC_index_0.html

* A launch pad for Vega
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/ESAHCB8VTTC_index_0.html

* Green light for two new programmes: Vega Small Launcher
and P80 Advanced Solid Booster
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/GGGR5PPCWGC_index_0.html

Related links

* Launchers website
http://www.esa.int/export/esaLA/index.html

* Vega
http://www.esa.int/export/esaLA/ASEKMU0TCNC_launchers_0.html

IMAGE CAPTIONS:

[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMFJD2A6BD_index_1.html]

[Image 2:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMFJD2A6BD_index_1.html#subhead1]
Although there is a growing tendency for satellites to
become larger, there is still a need for a small launcher
to put 300 to 2000 kg satellites, for scientific and
Earth observation missions, into polar and low-Earth
orbits cheaply and quickly.

Europe’s answer to these needs is Vega, named after the
2nd brightest star in the northern hemisphere. Vega will
make access to space easier, quicker and cheaper. Costs
are being kept to a minimum by using some of the
technologies already developed for Ariane launchers.
Vega will also be able to make use of the existing
launch facilities at Europe’s spaceport in Kourou.

Vega has been designed as a single body launcher with
three solid propulsion stages and an additional liquid
propulsion upper module for attitude and orbit control,
and satellite release.

Development of the Vega launcher started in 1998 and
the first launch is planned to take place in 2005.

Credits: ESA-J. Huart