Vega C Launch Failure Attributed to Nozzle Erosion
The Vega C rocket launch failure on July 10th, 2020 was a major setback for the European Space Agency (ESA). The Vega C rocket was intended to be the first of a new generation of rockets, but the mission ended in failure just seconds after launch. After an extensive investigation, the cause of the failure was determined to be nozzle erosion. Nozzle erosion occurs when the hot exhaust gases from the rocket engine erode the metal of the nozzle. This can cause the nozzle to become weaker and eventually fail.