ESA and Arianespace have signed contracts for the launches of two of ESA’s Sentinel satellites. Arianespace will launch Sentinel-2B and Sentinel-3B on Europe’s new Vega rocket from French Guiana.

The integration of Vega’s first, second and third stages is now complete at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The new rocket is moving full speed ahead towards its maiden flight at the end of January.

EVRY, France, Dec.

The Vega launch vehicle program has recently taken several major steps towards operation: the decision has been made to start the qualification launch campaign.

Europe’s first two satellites for its Galileo global positioning system were launched Friday from French Guiana aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket.