Vega launch

[Damburger]

Does anybody know when the dates when the first and second Vega (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vega_%28launcher%29) launches will be?

I'm involved in a cubesat project which may be launched on the second one, and with complete disregard for my schedule the ESA have decided to launch it around the same time as I am supposed to be getting married (summer 2009). My fiancée is kind of nervous she will have to compete so wants to know if there is an exact date yet.

[01101001]

For convenience, that Wikipedia link is Vega (launcher) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vega_%28launcher%29). (Needed square brackets instead of angle brackets.)

I can see at a braindead ASI (Italian Space Agency) website (http://www.asi.it/SiteIT/Default.aspx) that doesn't seem to let you actually grab a URL to reference some text:


The first launcher is actually scheduled for 2008.

The ESA site (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_Access_to_Space/ASEKMU0TCNC_0.html) is a little better, and gives slightly more detail, but insufficient specifics:


Development of the Vega launcher started in 1998. The first launch is planned for late in 2008 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana where the Ariane 1 launch facilities are being adapted for its use.

And if you are thinking 2009, then both of those are maybe out of date.

Edit: Must be out of date. Arianespace (http://www.arianespace.com/site/launcher/vega_sub_index.html) has it:


Vega's first qualification flight in 2009 is expected to be followed by launches at an average rate of 2 missions per year.

From a quick look around the Web, extrapolating from current out-of-date pronouncements, seeing no-to-little fall in the slippage rate, frankly, I'd expect to see it late 2009, 2010, even later.