Surveillance of the CSG

By their very nature, the activities at the Space Centre require a high level of security. Very thorough security arrangements, with several levels of surveillance and alarm, have been made to protect the CSG. Steps have been taken to deal with the dangers of intrusion, fire or pollution.

The forces protecting the Space Centre

A security system involving several different services ensures permanent security surveillance inside the Space Centre. This system is based on two main branches of activity :

• activities carried out by a detachment from the Paris Fire Brigade. They have several assignments: monitoring fire detection systems, responding to fires and chemical incidents and providing medical assistance to personnel.
• activities carried out by the Security and Safety Department. This Department helps design the layout of the launch base and ensures overall safety by monitoring the alarms and response systems.

The arrangements

The ‘Sphinx’

A primary alarm system, the ‘Sphinx’, constantly monitors access to buildings on the entire base. In so doing it manages more than 500 badge-readers and 35,000 control points spread all round the Space Centre. Two alarm centres centralise all information from these 35,000 control points

This alarm system, though usually managed entirely by computer, can also be configured for particular circumstances. For example, if a manager specifies that a building should be closed after 10 o’clock at night, the alarms will sound if it is open after that time. During launch campaigns, however, timetables are often modified. The alarm system therefore needs continual reprogramming, which means that the teams managing the system need to be highly responsive.

The ‘Syncer’ system

The ‘Sphinx’ is not the only surveillance and alarm system at the Space Centre. The fire detection arrangements, named ‘Syncer’, further reinforce site surveillance. If unexpected smoke is detected anywhere, a signal is immediately transmitted to a control centre. Operators alert the Fire Brigade and inform them of the exact location and the nature of the risk. With this information, the firemen know the name and location of the building and the floor, room and detector where the alarm was set off. They print out an incident file giving full details of how to respond and any access difficulties which may be met.

The role of the detachment from the Paris Fire Brigade.

The Paris Fire Brigade has kept a detachment at the Space Centre since it was built, and responds to a wide range of situations. From flooded buildings to removing snakes, but also providing medical assistance, the challenges faced are extremely varied.

The 68 Paris firemen have two main duties at the Space Centre :

• Emergency responses: first aid, fires, etc.
• Programmed interventions when the firemen have to take precautionary measures for dangerous activities. The commonest such cases are launch vehicle transfers, satellite fuelling phases, etc.

The firemen undergo daily training sessions (manoeuvres, accident simulation exercises and so on), but also assist in training the Centre’s personnel in safety matters. They contribute to safety assessments before any new facilities are built or current infrastructures modified at the Centre. The planned introduction of new facilities for the Soyuz and Vega launchers is drawing on their safety know-how for the future construction projects. They also work on the procedures necessary for these launchers, which will differ from Ariane 5 procedures. The new launchers will involve new obligations for the firemen. For instance, they will need training on how to deal with the different substances used by the launchers.

The ‘Codex’ system

This air monitoring system consists of detectors in the atmosphere that transmit data on eventual pollution at launch times. This information is of particular use to the CSG management and the local government representatives (the Préfecture) when deciding which measures need to be taken in the event of incidents at launch.

The Range Safety Advisory System

This uses mathematical models to show which areas might be endangered as a function of the particular high-risk operation and the environment.