A new pumping station is being completed for the source of non-drinkable water utilized at Ariane 5’s ELA-3 launch site.  This water is drawn from a rock quarry that provided material for construction of the Spaceport’s original ELA-1 launch zone, and which has filled naturally with rainwater.  Water from this source is used for a variety of purposes, including  launch pad acoustic damping and cooling during the Ariane 5’s engine ignition and liftoff.   The new station pumps water from deep in the quarry, guaranteeing its supply throughout the year – especially in the dry season – and eliminating the need to use drinkable city water.

The Kepler office building – which is situated over the launch control center previously used for Ariane 4 vehicles – is being refurbished to support the Spaceport’s expanding launch activity.  This facility was built in 1984, and is now being updated with new infrastructure (including modernized air conditioning and electrical systems), as well as improvements to meet the latest safety norms.  The refurbishment activity is a joint responsibility of Arianespace and Astrium, which will use the Kepler building for its launch teams and technical personnel.

Regular maintenance work at ELA-3 includes the cleaning and application of corrosion protection for the Ariane 5’s dual rail transportation network.  This photo shows one segment of the system, where the rail and its ties have been separated for sandblasting and treatment with anticorrosion paint.  Such work is performed between Ariane 5 missions, and this particular activity was completed before the upcoming heavy-lift flight, which is set for December 20.

Stainless steel plates have been added inside the ELA-3 launch pads’ flame ducts, which direct exhaust from Ariane 5’s two solid rocket boosters after their ignition.  The new 80-millimeter-thick plates prevent normal erosion of the concrete slipway during repeated launches.  This reduces maintenance requirements, and ensures the launch pad can be readied rapidly for the next mission.  The photo was taken from the flame duct’s base, looking upward to the area where Ariane 5’s solid rocket booster is positioned on the vehicle’s mobile launch table.