Italy builds Europe’s light launcher. Avio, a listed Italian company, makes Vega C and since May 2026 also sells and runs its launches. Vega C flies from French Guiana, not from Italy.
7 of 8
Vega C flights that reached orbit
20 of 22
flights of the first Vega that reached orbit, 2012 to 2024
€87.4m
public money per Vega C flight to orbit, not counting money for future flights
3.5 years
between the first date promised for Vega C and its first flight
Checked 8 October 2026
Rockets
Vega C
- Built by
- Avio
- Flights
- 7 of 8 reached orbit
- First flight
- 13 July 2022
- Status
- flying; Avio has run its launches since May 2026
- Public money
- €612m for Vega C itself to 2022, €87.4m per flight to orbit, not counting money for future flights
Vega
- Built by
- Avio
- Flights
- 20 of 22 reached orbit
- First flight
- 13 February 2012
- Status
- retired after its last flight in September 2024
- Public money
- not yet in our data
Launch sites
No launch site in Italy. Vega and Vega C fly from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou.
Vega C was promised for 2018 and first flew in July 2022. After its second flight failed it stayed on the ground for 715 days. Every flight since its return in December 2024 has reached orbit.
Money from company accounts, public registers and ESA contracts; promises from the statements on our company and spaceport pages; launch counts from Jonathan McDowell’s launch log of 7 October 2026. Every figure is on the page it comes from.