[Satellite TODAY 02-01-10] Arianespace signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) defining the legal responsibilities and operational services Arianespace will provide during the combined testing and integration of the Vega launch vehicle, Arianespace announced Jan. 29.
     Vega, co-financed by Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden, will undergo testing at Arianespace’s Guiana Space Center starting in April. The tests will be based on a launch campaign rehearsal using a representative launcher model in order to validate ground and launcher interfaces as well as the procedures for launcher operation and control.
     Following the qualification phase, the first five Vega launches, set to begin at the end of 2010, will be part of the Verta (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) development support program set up by ESA under a contract framework signed with Arianespace in December.
     The Vega launcher primarily will be used for scientific and Earth observation missions.

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