Arianespace and SAB-LS sign agreement. Photo: Arianespace

Arianespace signed an agreement with Italian company SAB Launch Services (SAB-LS), which specializes in launch services for small satellites, to serve as an Arianespace partner to provide end-to-end services for nanosatellites on Arianespace missions.

The multi-year agreement announced Monday applies to the supply of hardware, mission preparation and integration services for cubesats, and transporting payloads from SAB-LS European launch integration facilities, in the Czech Republic to Europe’s Spaceport, in Kourou, French Guiana. Arianespace said it will expand its services and capabilities for integrating small payloads on rideshare missions.

“This partnership with SAB-LS will provide us with increased flexibility to better address the needs of the smallsat community worldwide”, said Marino Fragnito, head of Vega Business Unit at Arianespace. “With Vega C, we have an increasing number of opportunities in our manifest. This availability, coupled with our cooperation with SAB-LS, will allow Arianespace to answer the booming demand for smallsat services.”

The agreement follows the first Vega-C flight in July. It is an enhanced version of the Vega lightweight vehicle, which has flown since 2012. Vega-C can orbit larger satellites, two main payloads, or rideshare missions, and was designed to expand launch access and flexibility.

The next Vega C mission, VV22, is planned for late November 2022.