[nakkiel]

I can't warp my head around how quick Vega is to rise (ESA's new light launcher). Here's a video from its qualification flight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0IZ6d4wTCg

So far, everything is going well on the mission but I'm very anxious about the reentry of the IXV.

[morbius]

The smoke plume is characteristic of SRBs, which have a very good thrust-to-mass ration but relatively low specific impulses.

If you've ever seen a Shuttle launch, the long and smoky plume and the rocket "leaping off the pad" will look very familiar.

[jccooper]

It does get going, doesn't it? Vega is a solid-fuel rocket (except for the fourth stage), and those have really high thrust early on.

If it behaves more like a missile than a satellite launcher that's no coincidence: most missiles are also solid-fuel.

[andor]

Most missiles are not designed to carry people ;-)