Operations

The Spaceport in French Guiana is the world’s most modern launch base, with three launch vehicles in full operation

A position of importance

The Spaceport’s location close to the equator at 5.3 deg. North latitude makes it ideally situated for missions into geostationary orbit. Launching near the equator reduces the energy required for orbit plane change maneuvers. This saves fuel, enabling an increased operational lifetime for Ariane satellite payloads – and, in turn, an improved return on investment for the spacecraft operators.

The French Guiana coastline’s shape allows for launches into all useful orbits from northward launches to -10.5 deg. through eastward missions to +93.5 deg. The area also has a low population density and is protected from hurricanes and earthquakes, providing it with unique advantages as a highly operational launch site. 

Ariane 5 launch site

Ariane 5 missions are performed from the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone, which is one of the world’s most modern facilities, and was built specifically to serve the workhorse heavy-lift vehicle.

Here the vehicle 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.  

Vega / Vega C launch site

Vega and Vega C are operated by Arianespace from the Spaceport’s ZLV launch facility in French Guiana.  This was the launch site for the original Ariane 1 and Ariane 3 vehicles, and it has been updated and adapted where needed to meet the operational requirements of this new lightweight vehicle.

The launch pad retains its pair of original flame ducts, which channel Vega’s exhaust gases during ignition and liftoff.  A new fixed umbilical mast provides power and environmental control connections to the launcher and its payloads from mission preparations through the countdown and liftoff. Four tall towers also have been positioned around the launch table to provide protection against lightning strikes.

During launch vehicle assembly and payload integration, the ZLV’s refurbished mobile gantry offers protection from the weather and provides proper working conditions for launch team personnel.  Once Vega is complete, the gantry is rolled back to its parked position, clear of the launch pad.