Since the building of this complex, four kilometres from the technical centre and entirely devoted to preparing and launching of Ariane 5, Space activity at the CSG has increased.
Unlike for Ariane 4, whose different stages were produced in Europe, more than half of the Ariane 5 launcher and in particular the booster stages, are manufactured in French Guiana under the supervision of three manufacturers: Regulus, Europropulsion and EADS Space Transportation.
Work on the launch complex began on 14 November 1988, ultimately accounting for an investment of about 800 million euros including ten years of development, construction and qualification. It is also the most European facility at the Guiana Space Station since more than 50 European companies participated in its construction. The outstanding design of the launch complex has been confirmed by the series of successful campaigns for Ariane 5 launchers.
Since launch campaigns are scheduled to last 20 days and since there are two launch pads, Ariane 5 is now able to guarantee access to Space with eight to ten possible launches per year. The launcher elements arrive by sea and the payloads by air.
The launcher elements arrive by sea and the payloads by air.
For safety reasons, this geographic area of more than 2,000 ha (21 km2) has been divided into two separate zones: the preparation zone (for integrating and preparing the launcher) and the launcher zone itself. ELA 3 limits the vulnerability of ground facilities. The launch zone is only used for filling the launcher and the final countdown which means it can be kept bare thus reducing the consequences of an accident in the launch pad area.
The S5 building
The S5, was designed for satellite preparation, including new generation satellites and for preparing payloads to be launched on Ariane in a more flexible way.
The launcher integration building (BIL)
The launcher integration building
An Ariane 5 campaign starts in this 58 m high building, when a platform including the launch pad equipped with the lower part of the umbilical mast is installed there. Access to the launcher is provided via three equipped platform levels.
- Lower part: hall for removing elements from storage
- Upper part: hall for erecting the launcher and integration dock
In this building, various launcher elements are erected, assembled and connected to the mast :
- The main cryogenic stage (EPC)
- The storable propellant stage (EPS)
- The two boosters (EAP), coming from the booster integration building (BIP), which are installed on each side of the main stage
- The equipment bay
The final assembly building (BAF)
Following assembly and integration operations, the launcher arrives in this building on its mobile launch platform along a double railway track in the form of an arc with a length of 1,200 m. The launcher then receives its payload and possibly its Speltra or Sylda structures and fairing, inside the BAF, which is 90 m high. These will have been prepared in an integration room in a controlled environment within the building and then brought to the top of the launcher
The upper part of the umbilical mast is installed in this building which includes :
- an integration room in which the satellites are installed in the fairing
- a 90m high, upper composite room, for integrating payloads on top of the launcher and connecting them to the upper part of the umbilical mast and also for performing satellite integration tests
- a lower composite hall for final launcher operations
- a hoisting chimney equipped with a catwalk for installing the upper composite on the lower composite
- a propellant storage tank for filling the second stage (EPS)
After 8 days, at T0-8, the launcher is transferred to the launch zone (ZL3) on a double railway track 2.8 km long.
The mobile platform (or launch pad)
From the beginning of the campaign, the Ariane 5 launcher is assembled and integrated on a mobile launch platform (launch pad).
This launch pad with a tare weight of 870 tonnes is equipped with a 58 m high umbilical mast consisting of two parts which house all equipment required for supplying the launcher with fluids and electricity and controlling it.
The launch pad is used for :
- supporting and maintaining the launcher throughout its preparation
- for protecting equipment interfaces between the ground segment and the launcher (for propellant, fluids, housekeeping control and command systems)
- for transferring the launcher from the various buildings in the Ariane 5 preparation zone to the launch zone (ZL3). At that time, the pad/launcher assembly weights more than 1,600 tonnes and moves at 4 km/h. The platform is towed by a truck powered by a launch platform services unit (GST) which provides power and maintains ventilation and air conditioning during transfer phases.
The table’s mast is equipped with a wind damping system (SAV) which absorbs the energy generated by wind on the launcher during transfers.
Second Ariane 5 launch table
As part of the new facilities for the upper cryogenic stage (ESC), a second completely equipped table has now been commissioned.
The Ariane 5 launch zone (ZL3)
The final phase of the Ariane 5 countdown and launch takes place in this zone over a period of 6 hours (T0-6 h), with all operations being remotely controlled from the no. 3 launch centre (CDL3).
This zone, which has an entirely new and simple design, has a minimum of fixed installations (there is no longer a mobile housekeeping gantry and the umbilical tower is entirely integrated into the launch platform) in order to be the least vulnerable possible in case of accident. The installations include :
- a concrete base to which the launch platform is then anchored; this adjoins the building containing the measurement facilities and fluid and electrical interfaces connected to the table,
- a metal tower playing the role of wind breaker,
- three separate flame chutes (trenches) which are open, to channel gas and flames during ignition (one for the jet from the Vulcain engine and one for each of the booster stages). A wall of water is released within these flame chutes to dampen sound vibrations during lift-off,
- a 90 m high wall of water with 1,500 m3 in reserve, capable of drenching the flame chutes with 30 m3 of water per second at the moment of lift-off. This drenching is also designed to protect the launch table against thermal shock and to cool the flame trenches,
- four lightning conductor masts to protect the launcher and facilities,
- a burn-off pool for gaseous hydrogen,
- facilities for connecting mobile gaseous oxygen and hydrogen tanks,
- facilities for connecting liquid oxygen and hydrogen mobile tanks.
Operations which take place in the launch zone
- Filling of the main cryogenic stage (EPC) with liquid hydrogen and oxygen. The upper cryogenic stages are filled by means of the Cazes tower.
- Pressurizing, conditioning and final checks of the main cryogenic stage (EPC).
- Ignition and lift-off.
The no. 3 launch centre (CDL3)
The whole Ariane 5 campaign is managed from this building, from which all operations performed in the no. 3 launch complex are managed, planned and controlled. It is made up of :
- a front part which houses the campaign teams and manufacturers for Ariane 5 including various offices and rooms,
- a shielded rear part, with a surface area of 2,700 m2 which includes two autonomous control rooms (for simultaneous monitoring of two Ariane 5 campaigns), a control and command room for housekeeping operations and three payload rooms (for satellites),
- an interface between the launch table and the ground segment, compatible with the BIL, BAF and ZL3 sites, for ensuring communications between the launcher and the control room from the beginning of the campaign right up to the launch.
