ELA-3 Launch Zone
After leaving ELA-3’s Final Assembly Building on its mobile launch table, the completed Ariane 5 arrives at the launch zone, where it is positioned over a concrete foundation with three flame trenches. Liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen feed lines for the launcher’s cryogenic main stage are hooked up via connectors under the launch table, as are the connections for the umbilical mast.
The launch zone has four 80-meter-tall towers that provide lightning protection, and a tower that delivers water to the launch site for cooling and noise damping during Ariane 5’s liftoff. A separate metallic tower equipped with baffles helps protect the launcher from air turbulence created by wind acting on the launch table’s umbilical mast and the launch vehicle itself.
Checkout, control, safety and coordination of Ariane 5 launch campaigns is handled by ELA-3’s launch center, which is located at a 3-km. safe distance from the launch zone. The protected building includes operations room, meeting rooms, offices and other facilities to support the approximately 100 persons involved in an Ariane 5 countdown.
An adjacent three-story building houses all services required for a launch campaign’s technical and operational management through to the start of final countdown.