Avio and SpaceLaunch, a US-based launch services company headquartered in Austin, Texas, have signed a Launch Services Agreement to place an institutional Earth observation satellite into orbit aboard Vega C in 2027.

The extra-European institutional customer, whose identity will be disclosed later this year, awarded the mission following an open international competition. Vega C was selected for its versatility and cost-effectiveness. The satellite, with a launch mass of approximately 700 kilograms, will be deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit.

Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio, commented: “This addition to the Vega C manifest reaffirms the vehicle’s versatility and competitiveness in the global launch market. It also underscores customer confidence in Avio’s ability to serve as a reliable launch services provider for international payloads".

Marcy Mabry, Chief Executive Officer of SpaceLaunch, added: “We are proud to partner with Avio on this important mission. SpaceLaunch is committed to delivering reliable, cost-effective access to space for customers worldwide. By selecting Vega C, our customer benefits from a proven launch solution and a dedicated, customer-focused team".

The launch is scheduled for the second half of 2027.