"The 24-month contract covers the requirements, design, and enabling technologies necessary to develop a demonstrator capable of returning to Earth and being reused in future missions. ESA told The Register that the component, dubbed the reusable upper stage demonstration, would be "integrated as an additional stage on top of a P160C solid rocket motor, on a future Vega configuration." The P160C was built as the first stage of the Vega C+ rocket"
"SpaceX looms large over legacy rockets. The Falcon 9 has proven the benefits of reusability, although only the first stage of the rocket can be reused. The Vega C and Ariane 6 rockets are expendable, though ESA is working toward first-stage reusability with the Themis project. Reusability is critical if a launcher is to be commercially viable, and SpaceX demonstrated a successful booster landing as part of a commercial mission in 2015."
Avio secured a €40 million, 24-month contract with ESA to define requirements, design, and enabling technologies for a reusable upper stage demonstrator capable of returning to Earth and being reused. The demonstrator is intended to be integrated as an additional stage atop a P160C solid rocket motor on a future Vega configuration, potentially replacing the Zefiro 40 second stage. The P160C was developed for Vega C+ and is planned for use on Ariane 6 and Vega E. The project faces tight timelines, industry skepticism, and significant technical complexity compared with demonstrated first-stage reuse.
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