02/06/2020 (Agence Europe) – The launch campaign for Vega, Europe’s smallest launcher, should resume in mid-June from the space launch centre in French Guiana, with the intention of putting a series of 7 micro- and 46 nano-satellites into orbit (for not only earth observation and telecommunications but also educational purposes). The announcement was made on Monday, 1 June, in an Arianespace press release. It will be the proof-of-concept flight (VV16) with the ‘rideshare’ configuration of the Vega launcher—known as the ‘Small Spacecraft Mission Service’ (SSMS). Operations had been shut down in mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the commissioner for the Internal Market, the European space sector has also been affected by the consequences of the pandemic and should be able to benefit from the recovery plan presented by the European Commission (see EUROPE 12496/7). (PH)