The assembly of a representative Vega launcher is nearly complete at the Spaceport as part of validations for the mechanical, electrical and fluid elements of this newest member in Arianespace’s launch vehicle family at its launch site in French Guiana.
After stacking the inert first, second and third solid propellant stages on the Vega launch pad, team members now have added the bi-propellant liquid upper stage, called the AVUM (Attitude and Vernier Upper Module). The next step will be installation of the payload fairing with a satellite mockup and payload adapter, followed by a loading exercise with the AVUM’s propellant.