The transport operations for the Vega launch vehicle have started. On September 26th the stages (A2, A3, A4) have been transferred from AVIO facility in Colleferro (Rome) to Livorno harbour to be loaded on a dedicated Arianespace ship. In the next weeks the launch vehicle will reach the European Space Center in Kourou where the launch campaign will start, preparing the qualification launch foreseen for early 2012.

 

The AVIO Group, through its subsudiary ELV,
has signed yesterday with Arianespace a framework contract for five launch vehicle Vega and
the order for the first launcher production.

Claudio Rovai has been appointed as Chairman of ELV (European Launch Vehicle), the company controlled by Avio (70%) and the Italian Space Agency (30%), which is responsible for the development and production of the new European Vega launcher.