Ukrainian portion caused European space launch failure.

(RT) ⸻ The European Space Agency (ESA) has blamed the recent loss of its main small rocket, the Vega-C, on a faulty Ukrainian-supplied engine part. The ill-fated launch took place on December 20, when the rocket deviated from its planned trajectory and controls were lost, forcing officials to destroy it over the Atlantic Ocean. The probe into the accident traced the malfunction back to the Zefiro 40 solid-fuel second stage of the rocket, which was supplied by Italian airspace company Avio. The investigators ruled that the material "can no longer be used for flight" and uncovered flaws in the criteria used to deem the throat insert flightworthy. The Independent Enquiry Commission has formulated a series of recommendations aiming at restoring confidence in the Vega and Vega-C launcher systems through the establishment of robust recovery plans to ensure a reliable return to flight and robust commercial exploitation. The next Vega-C launch is expected to take place "before the end of summer 2023." The latest Vega-C failure has left a major dent in the EU's space operations, given the already limited availability of cargo capacities for commercial satellite launches. (ESA) has blamed the recent loss of its main small rocket, the Vega-C, on a faulty Ukrainian-supplied engine part. The ill-fated launch took place on December 20, when the rocket deviated from its planned trajectory and controls were lost, forcing officials to destroy it over the Atlantic Ocean. The probe into the accident traced the malfunction back to the Zefiro 40 solid-fuel second stage of the rocket, which was supplied by Italian airspace company Avio. The investigators ruled that the material "can no longer be used for flight" and uncovered flaws in the criteria used to deem the throat insert flightworthy. The Independent Enquiry Commission has formulated a series of recommendations aiming at restoring confidence in the Vega and Vega-C launcher systems through the establishment of robust recovery plans to ensure a reliable return to flight and robust commercial exploitation. The next Vega-C launch is expected to take place "before the end of summer 2023." The latest Vega-C failure has left a major dent in the EU's space operations, given the already limited availability of cargo capacities for commercial satellite launches.