Delays and Missing Parts
The final lift-off of Vega was initially scheduled for spring 2024 but has been postponed until September due to the disappearance of two out of four large propellant tanks from an Italian factory, as revealed by ESA officials during a news conference. The tanks were discovered “crushed” and inoperable in a landfill along with metal scraps. Since there are no spare tanks besides those used for testing, reusing them would pose risks. Consequently, the plan is to modify slightly larger tanks intended for the newer Vega C model. Toni Toker-Nielsen, ESA’s director of transportation, clarified that the missing Vega tanks were not stolen, but there is currently no explanation for how they wound up in a garbage dump. The French space agency disclosed that Vega operates using propellant stored in four spherical 142-litre tanks.
Ariane 6 Test and Future Launch
Approximately a year ago, Vega C failed during its second mission, resulting in the destruction of two imaging satellites. Toker-Nielsen informed reporters that the firing test was aborted two minutes into the process. The reasons behind the failure are presently being analyzed by manufacturer ArianeGroup. However, there are no indications that the aborted test will impede the inaugural flight, scheduled from mid-June to end-July 2024. ArianeGroup, owned jointly by Airbus and Safran (EPA:SAF), has not yet provided a comment. Last month, the ESA announced the successful completion of a long-firing engine test at a launchpad in French Guiana, enabling the selection of a launch window in 2024. A loading test is also set to proceed as planned on Friday.