An Arianespace Vega rocket is ready for an epic return to flight, as the European booster prepares to carry 53 satellites into orbit tonight (June 28).

Weather permiing, the Arianespace Vega rocket will launch a huge rideshare mission From the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana at 9:51 p.m.

It will be the first flight of a Vega rocket since a launch failure almost a year ago.

Related: Vega rocket launch failure in July caused by faulty motor .

The four-stage rocket will launch a proof-of-concept flight for its Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS), which will send dozens of satellites into space for 21 customers. .

While some large satellites do still launch on the company's rockets, the demand for tiny satellites has increased exponentially in recent years as computers and small satellite components become ever smaller and cheaper.

ESA said in a separate statement that more customers are already eager to take part in the next Vega rideshare opportunity, given that the large number of satellites per launch lowers individual costs for participants.

Another dispenser configuration could see a large satellite in the top section and many satellites occupying the bottom section, ESA said.

When the upper part of Vega reaches space, the rocket's satellite dispenser will release the satellites in a coordinated sequence, ESA said.

Should this mission be successful, Arianespace said it plans to implement more rideshares on the forthcoming Vega-C launcher, a lightweight rocket that will eventually replace Vega.

The new launcher, Arianespace said in its statement, "will offer an extra 700 kg [roughly 1,500 lbs.] of capacity and enlarged volume within a wider launcher fairing — at the same Vega launch cost as before." The increased capacity will allow Vega-C to fly more satellites per launch and reduce the cost by weight, Arianespace added.