Europe's Vega rocket made its first flight since late 2021 and successfully launched 12 satellites weighing more than 1,200kg into orbit

Arianespace sent a dozen spacecraft into orbit. The European Vega rocket was used for this purpose.

Here's What We Know

The French company launched the European Vega rocket for the first time in 2023. It launched from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. About two hours after launch, 12 spacecraft were deployed in low Earth orbit.

The payload included the THEOS-2 remote sensing satellite weighing more than 400kg. Also aboard the rocket was Taiwan's FormoSat-7R/Triton, weighing approximately 240kg. The total payload mass was 1,242kg, almost 83% of the maximum (1,500kg).

Vega first flew into space In 2012. In 11 years, it has flown only 22 missions, i.e. an average of two per year. However, it is worth noting that the past mission was the first for the European rocket not only in the current year, but for almost two years. The last time it was used was in November 2021.

Source: Arianespace