[12-05-07 – Satellite Today] A prototype of the P80 rocket motor, which will power the first stage of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Vega launch vehicle, was tested Dec. 4 at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, ESA announced.
    The motor delivered a mean thrust of about 190 tons for a nominal duration of 111 seconds, roughly one-third of the thrust delivered by an Ariane 5 solid booster. More than 600 parameters were recorded during the firing test to monitor the performance of the motor. Initial analysis confirmed that the measurements are fully in line with predictions.
ESA’s Vega small satellite launcher is an all-solid-propellant, three-stage vehicle with a liquid-fuelled injection module, developed with the support of Italy, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden.
    The first flight of Vega is scheduled to take place by the end of 2008.