Zefiro-9
Zefiro-9 is the solid third-stage motor shared by Vega and Vega-C. It draws on the Zefiro-16 demonstrator with improved composite structure, HTPB propellant, consumable igniters and electric actuators for the movable nozzle. ESA’s original Vega reference lists 117 s burn time and 313 kN maximum thrust. The final Vega-C qualification firing on 1 October 2020 burned approximately 10 tonnes of propellant for 120 s. These figures describe different reference and test conditions.
Identity
- Domains
- spaceflight
- Identity Level
- model
- Kind
- solid-rocket-motor
- Name
- Zefiro-9
- Status
- active
Details
- Description
- Zefiro-9 is the solid third-stage motor shared by Vega and Vega-C. It draws on the Zefiro-16 demonstrator with improved composite structure, HTPB propellant, consumable igniters and electric actuators for the movable nozzle. ESA’s original Vega reference lists 117 s burn time and 313 kN maximum thrust. The final Vega-C qualification firing on 1 October 2020 burned approximately 10 tonnes of propellant for 120 s. These figures describe different reference and test conditions.
- First Flight Date
- 2012-02-13
- Propellants
- HTPB solid propellant
- Rocket Specs
- Burn Time
- …
- Vacuum Thrust
- …
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 29, 2026 at 09:08:53 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:57:06 UTC
Other
- Diameter
- …
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Note
- Supports the legacy vehicle installation and the narrow canonical identity used for migration.
- Publisher
- Official vehicle or program source
- Title
- Vega Launch Vehicle official vehicle reference
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Publisher
- European Space Agency
- Title
- The Vega stages
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Note
- Supports the legacy vehicle installation and the narrow canonical identity used for migration.
- Publisher
- Official vehicle or program source
- Title
- Vega-C official vehicle reference
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Publisher
- European Space Agency
- Title
- Vega-C complete for return to flight
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-15
- Note
- ESA records Vega's VV01 maiden flight on 13 February 2012; Zefiro-9 is the canonical Vega third-stage motor.
- Publisher
- European Space Agency
- Title
- VV01 – Vega's first liftoff
- Accessed Date
- 2026-10-29
- Note
- ESA reports the Vega-C qualification firing on 1 October 2020: 120 s, approximately 10 tonnes propellant. Original Vega reference separately gives 117 s and 313 kN maximum thrust.
- Publisher
- European Space Agency
- Title
- Zefiro-9 final qualification test fire