Editing European Space Agency (section)

===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>