Acoustic Testing Continues For ESA's Vega Rocket

Engineers in Colleferro, Italy continue to perform acoustic tests for the new Vega rocket currently in development. Sound pressure and associated vibration must be minimized to avoid damage to a launch vehicle's payload or to the launcher itself. These latest tests use a 1:20 scale model of the Vega, including its P80 first-stage motor, and the launch pad.

Vega will be ready for its first launch in 2006. At only 30 meters tall, Vega will be ESA's smallest rocket, using it's four stages (three solid, one liquid) to launch small satellites weighing up to about 2000 kg.

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