(Alliance News) - Avio Spa reported Thursday that a static ignition test of the Zefiro 40 engine -- second stage of the Vega C launcher -- required for the return to flight of Vega C after the flight anomaly suffered during the last VV22 launch in December, was performed yesterday on schedule.

Following the recommendations of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on VV22, the test was performed to qualify engine performance with a new carbon-carbon material for the nozzle throat insert. The test conditions were deliberately set as extremely severe in terms of maximum engine operating pressure in order to demonstrate a wide performance margin to ensure maximum flight reliability, as explained by Avio.

"Preliminary analysis of the test results - to be further investigated in the following days and weeks before final conclusions are reached - allowed several results to be reached: the new carbon-carbon material showed nominal performance, very close to expectations. However, after 40 seconds from the start of the test, another anomaly was detected, which led to a reduction in the overall pressure performance of the engine before the expected completion of the test at 97 seconds. This issue will require further investigation and testing by Avio and the European Space Agency to ensure optimal performance conditions," the company reported.

The Vega launcher is not affected by the performance of Zefiro 40, which is specific to Vega C. Vega's next launch remains scheduled for September. Planning for the return to flight of Vega C is currently under evaluation, pending further analysis and investigation.

"However, Avio remains committed to Vega launcher missions as Vega C prepares to return to flight."

Avio's stock is up 0.7 percent at EUR9.19 per share.

By Giuseppe Fabio Ciccomascolo, Alliance News senior reporter

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