Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, has been waiting a long time for a new launcher. Arianespace's family of in-service rockets has been unchanged since 2012: the heavy Ariane 5, medium-lift Soyuz and light Vega. But Kourou is entering a new era, where significant stages of evolution will take place quickly. The Vega C's first launch campaign marks the beginning of that phase. For Europe's space industry, it signals faster, continuous adaptation to market needs with new and upgraded launchers. The first Vega C is scheduled for launch in early July. The inaugural Ariane 6 will fly late this year or in 2023. Vega's next version, the Vega E, is slated for liftoff in 2026. In addition, several improvements to the Ariane 6 are planned for this decade.
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