Vega C rocket fails to deliver Pleiades Neo satellites into orbit

Europe s Vega C rocket launched on its second-ever mission from Europe s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on Tuesday at 9:47 p.m. EST (10:47 p.m. local time; 0247 GMT on Dec. 21). The rocket failed to deliver the Pléiades Neo 5 and Pléiades Neo 6 Earth-imaging satellites into orbit. An investigation is underway to determine the cause. Statement from Arianespace: "Approximately 2 minutes and 27 seconds after liftoff an anomaly occurred on the Zefiro 40 thus ending the Vega C mission. Data analyses are in progress to determine the reasons of this failure." Credit: Arianespace