Visit to Vega launch pad

The Vega rocket is the smallest launcher used by Arianespace. It is jointly developed by the Italian Space Agency and ESA and used for payloads ranging from 300 up 2500 kg. The VEGA maiden qualification flight took place on 13th February 2012.
MSG teams were invited to visit the launch pad which is now in preparation for the next flight planned for 2013.

Overall view on Vega launch pad complex: Assembly building (left), water tower (middle), four lightning rods and the thin white mast to which the rocket is connected via umbilical harnesses.






A view onto the assembly building (moving forth and back). It is rolled back few hours before the launch to prevent damages.

 A view inside the assembly building.












Note that during take off, stones were ripped off the concrete structure of the launch table by the flames of the P80 engine.  Few stones were projected meters away and have damaged the front door of the assembly building. One is still there to show the strength of these projections.

 A nice view on the empty launch pad.