Everything is almost ready for the maiden launch of the Vega C rocket, which is scheduled to debut in May 2022. This is despite the fact that the manufacturer, Avio, seems is grappling with the difficulties of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict, which slows down the supply of important components from Kiev and Moscow. In the meantime, in the Milan facilities of the Ohb Italia company, the Lares2 satellite and six Cubesats have passed the checks and are ready for liftoff.

The Laser Relativity Satellite 2 is a 300-kilo sphere designed by the Fermi Center, the University "La Sapienza" of Rome and the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (Infn) under the guidance of the Italian Space Agency (Asi). The other six satellites are made by European research organizations, including the Italians Astrobio (National Institute of Astrophysics), Greencube (La Sapienza Rome) and the company ArcaDynamics, will be integrated within the Lares2 system.

The objective of the scientists is to test some aspects of the theory of relativity. Completed the verifications, the seven satellites are ready to be transported in the European space center of Kourou, in French Guyana. 

On the same subject see also the article published by AVIONEWS.