You're reading: Ukraine starts mass production of engines for European Vega rocket

Ukraine has started producing the first cruise engines for the fourth stage of the new European Vega light rocket, a source acquainted with the details of Ukrainian-European cooperation under the Vega rocket program, has told Interfax-Ukraine.

“Today, Ukraine has started mass production of engines for the Vega
rocket, and the first engine will be supplied to the customer in early
2014,” the source said.

He said that under the current contract, in 2014-2015, Ukraine is to
deliver the first five cruise engines for the fourth stage of the rocket
to the customer: three in 2014 and two in 2015.

The source said that on May 7, 2013, the new European light-class
Vega launcher successfully placed in orbit three small foreign
satellites after the new rocket’s second launch from Kourou in French
Guiana.

“After the successful launch in early May, our European partners in
the project have showed interest in boosting the pace of promotion of
the program in the interests of the customer and moved the terms of the
first engine delivery to 2013,” he said.

“We’re ready to discuss the issue with European colleagues if
agreement to accelerate the supply of the engine is achieved,” the
source said.

A contract to design and supply a rocket motor for the new European
Vega launch vehicle was signed by Pivdenne Design Bureau, Pivdenmash and
Italian Avio S.p.A. in February 2004.

In April 2012, Pivdenne Design Bureau and Pivdenmash signed a
three-year contract with Italy’s Avio S.p.A. on the supply of the first
five mass-produced rocket engines for the fourth stage of the Vega
launch vehicle.

Italy, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and
Switzerland are taking part in the Vega program. Italy, via the Italian
Space Agency, finances 65% of the program.

The Vega light rocket is designed to put satellites of up to 1,200
kilograms into solar synchronous orbits of 1,200 kilometers, or
satellites of up to 1,500 kilograms into polar orbits of 700 kilometers.