Air Liquide Spatial Guyane operates the production plants for liquid hydrogen and oxygen for the LH2 and LOX launchers and for fluids (nitrogen, helium). These units manufacture the cryogenic propellant for the Ariane 5 main stage.
Air Liquide, which set up in French Guiana in 1969, was integrated into the Guiana Space Centre in 1986 to maintain the cryogenic facilities for the whole of the Ariane 2 launch complex (ELA 2) as well as to operate a factory producing liquid oxygen and nitrogen. In 1988, Air Liquide started running a new factory in the no. 2 launch complex for liquid oxygen and nitrogen. On 1 January, 1991, given a considerable increase in Space activities in Guiana and in response to a request by CNES, the Air Liquide Management team created Air Liquide Spatial Guyane, set up a facility for producing and distributing gaseous helium at a pressure of 200 bars and invested in a factory for producing liquid hydrogen.
Air Liquide Spatial Guyane operates five units on the Ariane launch base :
- a liquid oxygen and nitrogen production unit
- a liquid hydrogen production unit
- a unit for vaporising and compressing extremely pure helium, at 600 bars and 200 bars, along with an 11 km pipeline
- a unit for producing gaseous nitrogen at 250 bars
- a unit for producing compressed air at 12,000 m3/h
The company has four distinct assignments, namely :
- maintaining cryogenic installations for the no. 2 and 3 launch complexes
- producing gas: liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, liquid hydrogen, liquid and compressed helium, compressed nitrogen and compressed air
- managing logistics and transportation of these products within the CSG
- commercial and administrative management from its on-site offices in the no. 3 launch complex, thus enabling it to be close to its customers
The products delivered to ArianeSpace and CNES for the Ariane 5 tests are guaranteed to be extremely pure. They are continuously analysed throughout the manufacturing process in order to meet the customers' specifications in time. All of the work is done in time by trained and supervised personnel according to ISO 9002 quality standards. Air Liquide Spatial Guyane also produces fuel for industry, local craftsmen and hospitals in French Guiana.
