Editing European Space Agency (section)

==Launch vehicles==
The ESA currently has two operational launch vehicles [[Vega-C]] and [[Ariane 6]].<ref> {{Cite web |title=Flying first on Ariane 6 |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Flying_first_on_Ariane_6 |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> Rocket launches are carried out by [[Arianespace]], which has 23 shareholders representing the industry that manufactures the Ariane 5 as well as [[CNES]], at the ESA's [[Guiana Space Centre]]. Because many communication satellites have equatorial orbits, launches from [[French Guiana]] are able to take larger payloads into space than from spaceports at higher [[latitude]]s. In addition, equatorial launches give [[spacecraft]] an extra 'push' of nearly 500&nbsp;m/s due to the higher [[rotational velocity]] of the Earth at the equator compared to near the Earth's poles where rotational velocity approaches zero.

===Ariane 6===
{{Main|Ariane 6}}
Ariane 6 is a [[Heavy-lift launch vehicle|heavy lift]] [[Expendable launch system|expendable launch vehicle]] developed by [[Arianespace]]. The Ariane 6 entered into its inaugural flight campaign on 26 April 2024 with the flight conducted on 9 July 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sohier |first=Camille |date=2024-04-26 |title=Start of the first Ariane 6 launch campaign on the launch pad |url=https://press.ariane.group/?p=14328 |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=ArianeGroup }}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Vega-C===
{{Main|Vega-C}}
[[File:Sentinel-2 and vega.jpg|thumb|upright|Vega rocket]]

Vega is the ESA's carrier for small satellites. Developed by seven ESA members led by [[Italian Space Agency|Italy]]. It is capable of carrying a payload with a mass of between 300 and 1500&nbsp;kg to an altitude of 700&nbsp;km, for low [[polar orbit]]. Its maiden launch from [[Guiana Space Centre|Kourou]] was on 13 February 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Vega3/ESA_s_new_Vega_launcher_scores_success_on_maiden_flight |title=ESA's new Vega launcher scores success on maiden flight |access-date=6 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031004926/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Vega3/ESA_s_new_Vega_launcher_scores_success_on_maiden_flight |archive-date=31 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Vega began full commercial exploitation in December 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega |title=Vega |access-date=13 June 2018 |archive-date=13 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613192830/https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega |url-status=live }}</ref>

The rocket has three solid propulsion stages and a [[liquid rocket|liquid propulsion]] [[upper stage]] (the [[AVUM]]) for accurate orbital insertion and the ability to place multiple [[Payload (air and space craft)|payloads]] into different orbits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Vega |title=Vega – Launch Vehicle |date=10 May 2013 |publisher=ESA |access-date=1 May 2014 |archive-date=21 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421223138/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Vega |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asi.it/en/flash_en/accessing/vega |title=VEGA – A European carrier for small satellites |year=2012 |publisher=ASI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502002510/http://www.asi.it/en/flash_en/accessing/vega |archive-date=2 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

A larger version of the Vega launcher, [[Vega (rocket)#Vega-C and Vega-E|Vega-C]] had its first flight in July 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Vega-C_successfully_completes_inaugural_flight |title=Vega-C successfully completes inaugural flight |editor=European Space Agency |website=www.esa.int |date=13 July 2022 |access-date=3 July 2023 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714090903/https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Vega-C_successfully_completes_inaugural_flight |url-status=live }}</ref> The new evolution of the rocket incorporates a larger first stage booster, the [[P120 (rocket stage)|P120C]] replacing the [[P80 (rocket stage)|P80]], an upgraded [[Zefiro (rocket stage)]] second stage, and the AVUM+ upper stage. This new variant enables larger single payloads, dual payloads, return missions, and orbital transfer capabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega-C |title=Vega-C |date=9 April 2020 |publisher=ESA |access-date=13 January 2021 |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930091555/https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega-C |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Ariane launch vehicle development funding===
Historically, the Ariane family rockets have been funded primarily "with money contributed by ESA governments seeking to participate in the program rather than through competitive industry bids. This [has meant that] governments commit multiyear funding to the development with the expectation of a roughly 90% return on investment in the form of industrial workshare." ESA is proposing changes to this scheme by moving to [[competition (economics)|competitive]] bids for the development of the [[Ariane 6]]<!-- and possibly Ariane 5E, not clear in the source -->.<ref name=aw20140310>{{cite news |last=Svitak |first=Amy |title=SpaceX Says Falcon 9 To Compete For EELV This Year |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_03_10_2014_p48-668592.xml |access-date=11 March 2014 |newspaper=Aviation Week |date=10 March 2014 |quote=ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain is aiming to reduce the agency's development and operational costs in a stark departure from past practice: Until now, the Ariane family of rockets has been built largely with money contributed by ESA governments seeking to participate in the program rather than through competitive industry bids. This means governments commit multiyear funding to the development with the expectation of a roughly 90% return on investment in the form of industrial workshare. But in July, when Dordain presents ESA's member states with industry proposals for building the Ariane 6, he will seek government contributions based on the best value for money, not geographic return on investment. 'To have competitive launchers, we need to rethink the launch sector in Europe.' |archive-date=10 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310123118/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=%2Farticle-xml%2FAW_03_10_2014_p48-668592.xml |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Future rocket development===
Future projects include the [[Prometheus (rocket engine)|Prometheus]] reusable engine technology demonstrator, Phoebus (an upgraded second stage for Ariane 6), and [[Themis programme|Themis]] (a reusable first stage).<ref>{{Cite web |title=New ESA contracts to advance Prometheus and Phoebus projects |url=http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/New_ESA_contracts_to_advance_Prometheus_and_Phoebus_projects |access-date=25 May 2021 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525203247/http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/New_ESA_contracts_to_advance_Prometheus_and_Phoebus_projects |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA plans demonstration of a reusable rocket stage |url=http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/ESA_plans_demonstration_of_a_reusable_rocket_stage |access-date=25 May 2021 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525203244/http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/ESA_plans_demonstration_of_a_reusable_rocket_stage |url-status=live }}</ref>