Italian manufacturer Avio has postponed the third Vega C launch of 2026, shifting the mission closer to Christmas. CEO Giulio Ranzo stated that the delay stems from the late arrival of customer payloads, specifically the final units of the six satellites scheduled for the flight.
The mission will carry satellites for the Italian IRIDE Earth observation constellation. According to the French space agency CNES, the Thales Alenia Space-built spacecraft arrived in French Guiana on 9 November 2026 and were moved to the Guiana Space Centre the following day.
This adjustment follows previous scheduling shifts mentioned by Avio earlier this year. During a September earnings call, the company noted that the launch was originally planned for early December, indicating a delay of approximately two to three weeks.
Avio has completed two Vega C missions in 2026, including the 15 September launch of the FLEX and Sentinel-3C satellites. The company aims to increase its annual launch frequency to four or five missions, contingent on customers meeting their delivery deadlines.
