The Italian rocket builder Avio has completed the second of two recertification hot fire tests of the Vega C Zefiro 40 second stage. The company will now work toward the rocket’s return to flight mission.
Vega C has been grounded since the failure of the rocket’s second flight in late 2022. Its return to flight was complicated when in June 2023 a recertification test of the rocket’s Zefiro 40 second stage also failed.
After an investigation, it was determined that Avio would need to redesign the Zefiro 40 nozzle before the rocket could be returned to flight. In order to validate the redesign, the company was required to complete two recertification hot fire tests.
The first test was successfully completed on 28 May at the Avio testing facility in Sardinia, Italy.
Confirmation of the successful second Zefiro 40 test was first shared on 3 October by the president of the Italian space agency ASI, Teodora Valente.
“This second test confirms the performance of the engine and allows Europe and the European Space Agency, thanks to the strong contribution of Italy, to re-enter the race in the strategic launcher sector,” said Valente.
The first test in May was performed under high operating pressure and with a short burning time. Today’s test was, in contrast, conducted at a low operating pressure with a longer burn.
According to ESA, engineers are in the process of analyzing the motor’s performance. However, the agency added that an initial post-test review indicated that it performed as expected.
While the Vega C return to flight mission had been expected to be attempted in November, Valente’s confirmation of the successful second test suggested that the launch may have slipped to December.
