An undated handout picture released 13 February 2012 shows ESA's new Vega rocket fully assembled at Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. The European Space Agency (ESA) planned to launch its first new rocket since 1996 on 13 February 2012 with the Vega due to lift off from Kourou. The flight, scheduled to start sometime between 10 and 1230 GMT, was to mark the culmination of a nine-year project to produce a rocket that takes smaller payloads. Designed in Italy, the Vega was developed by seven European countries at a cost of nearly 800 million euros (1 billion dollars). EPA/ESA / M. PEDOUSSAUT / HANDOUT
Vega VV01 rocket lifts off on its maiden flight from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana 13 February 2012. Europe's new Vega rocket lifted off successfully from Kourou spaceport on its first test flight. The 30-metre-tall Vega, which was designed in Italy and took nearly a decade to complete, lifted off at 1000 GMT on its maiden voyage, which was to last 81 minutes. EPA/ESA / S. CORVAJA HANDOUT
Vega VV01 rocket lifts off on its maiden flight from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana 13 February 2012. Europe's new Vega rocket lifted off successfully from Kourou spaceport on its first test flight. The 30-metre-tall Vega, which was designed in Italy and took nearly a decade to complete, lifted off at 1000 GMT on its maiden voyage, which was to last 81 minutes. EPA/ESA / S. CORVAJA HANDOUT
Vega VV01 rocket lifts off on its maiden flight from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana 13 February 2012. Europe's new Vega rocket lifted off successfully from Kourou spaceport on its first test flight. The 30-metre-tall Vega, which was designed in Italy and took nearly a decade to complete, lifted off at 1000 GMT on its maiden voyage, which was to last 81 minutes. EPA/ESA / S. CORVAJA HANDOUT
Vega VV01 rocket lifts off on its maiden flight from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, 13 February 2012. Europe's new Vega rocket by ESA - European Space Agency lifted off successfully from Kourou spaceport on its first test flight. The 30-metre-tall Vega, which was designed in Italy and took nearly a decade to complete, lifted off at 1000 GMT on its maiden voyage, which was to last 81 minutes. EPA/MANUEL PEDOUSSAUT / HANDOUT
Vega VV01 rocket lifts off on its maiden flight from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, 13 February 2012. Europe's new Vega rocket by ESA - European Space Agency lifted off successfully from Kourou spaceport on its first test flight. The 30-metre-tall Vega, which was designed in Italy and took nearly a decade to complete, lifted off at 1000 GMT on its maiden voyage, which was to last 81 minutes. EPA/MANUEL PEDOUSSAUT / HANDOUT
