Vega on track for January launch

摘要

Lying prominently within the constellation Lyra, Vega is the fifth brightest star in the night sky and every 25,000 years it assumes the role of the pole star. Small surprise then that it is also the name of the latest rocket to stand up at the Kourou launch site in French Guiana, on earth the third star now held in the constellation of Arianespace. After almost 14 years of debate, design, development and preparation, Vega is almost ready for its inaugural flight, at the time of going to press that expected on January 26. With a payload capacity of 1,500kg to a maximum altitude of 700km, this four-stage rocket is a collaborative endeavour between ESA and the Italian Space Agency.