The family of European rockets is growing. The next one is the youngest, called Vega, soon to be launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. This new rocket complements the range that Europe already has to offer in the commercial market.

This time-lapse shows the full assembly of the first Vega launcher at the launch pad, in preparation for its qualification flight. It starts with the transfer and installation of the P80 first stage from the Vega Booster Storage and Preparation Building to the launch pad, followed by the two solid-propellant second and third stages, the Zefiro-23 and Zefiro-9. The next step was to add the AVUM – Attitude & Vernier Upper Module – liquid-propellant fourth stage to the vehicle.

The ‘upper composite’ – the fairing and payload – was moved to the pad on 24 January and integrated over night.

ESA’s new Vega rocket is now fully assembled on its launch pad. Final preparations are in full swing for the rocket’s inaugural flight from Europe’s Spaceport.

The following HD clip shows how Masat-1 is going to orbit around Earth. You can see the satellite establishing contact with the primary ground station at BME, joined by the radio amateurs in Europe and all over the World. The radio contact is possible only if the satellite is above the Horizon at the given location. This is simbolized with thin green lines between the satellite and the ground stations, represented by coloured dots on the Globe.

Everybody is welcome to join in recieving the satellite using our ground station software freely downloadable from our website!

Our secondary (backup) ground station is fully operational, waiting for receiving the first signals from Masat-1. Operator: Levente (HA7WEN).

The first Vega launch campaign began on 7 November 2011 at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana with the installation of the P80 first stage on the launch pad.

The two solid-propellant second and third stages, the Zefiro-23 and Zefiro-9, were then transferred from the Vega Booster Storage and Preparation Building and added to the vehicle.

All three stages underwent final acceptance, including testing of their thrust vector control system. The next step was to mate the AVUM – Attitude & Vernier Upper Module – liquid-propellant fourth stage to the vehicle.

In the coming weeks, the ‘upper composite’ – the fairing and payload – will be integrated followed by final checkout of the fully assembled launcher and the countdown rehearsal, well in time for liftoff.