Vega-C launch vehicle launches KOMPSAT-7 Earth observation satellite with technology from Beyond Gravity

Developed in Emmen and Zurich, the payload fairings of the Vega C launch vehicle protect the onboard satellites from mechanical and thermal loads, such as sound pressure, temperature peaks, and vibrations, during launch. Made of carbon fiber-reinforced composite materials, the structure offers a high strength-to-weight ratio, supporting efficient mission performance.

The two-piece rocket nose cone, which is nine meters long, enables the transport of complex or multiple satellite configurations. An integrated, fully automatic pyrotechnic separation system ensures both halves of the fairing are jettisoned precisely when the vehicle reaches thinner layers of the atmosphere. The fairing's aerodynamic profile is tailored to the Vega-C's overall architecture to reduce drag and increase launch efficiency.