SpaceNews.com - Daily news coverage of the business and politics of the global space industry. The European Space Agency on Aug. 12 signed contracts with industry to produce an upgraded Vega small-satellite launcher for a launch in 2018 and the all-new Ariane 6 heavy-lift vehicle to debut in 2020. The post ESA Inks $3.8 Billion in Contracts for Ariane 6, Vega-C and Spaceport Upgrades appeared first on SpaceNews.com.