Officials Eye New Upper Stage for Vega Rocket
16 Feb 2012, 13:17 UTC
Despite committing almost $1.5 billion to developing and flight testing its newest launch vehicle, Vega, Europe will spend even more money to upgrade the rocket. European officials are eying the developing of a new German fourth stage to replace a Ukrainian-built RD-868 engine that was used on Vega’s successful inaugural flight on Monday. It’s not [...]
Inaugural Vega flight. (Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja, 2012)
Despite committing almost $1.5 billion to developing and flight testing its newest launch vehicle, Vega, Europe will spend even more money to upgrade the rocket.
European officials are eying the developing of a new German fourth stage to replace a Ukrainian-built RD-868 engine that was used on Vega’s successful inaugural flight on Monday. It’s not clear how much the new engine would cost.
In the wake of the successful launch this week, the head of the Italian Space Agency — which funded 58 percent of the rocket’s development — fielded a call from his German counterpart:
Enrico Saggese, president of the Italian space agency, said he received a call Monday from Johann-Dietrich Woerner, executive chairman of the German Aerospace Center, or DLR. Saggese said Woerner suggested Germany was ready to join the Vega program.
“I ...
