The Jupiter Room

The Jupiter Room is the real command centre for the Ariane 5 launch procedure. The various launch campaign managers meet there to coordinate the final launch arrangements. The principal decisions concerning the launch are taken in the control centre. On D-Day, details about the state of the launch pad, the launch vehicle and the satellite are all centralised in this room, to enable operators to decide whether to go ahead with the launch.

Those who work in the Jupiter Room

The Jupiter control centre is made up of three rooms separated by glass partitions.

1) In the first room, called ‘Operations Authority’, there are :

• the teams responsible for controlling operations
• the satellite teams
• the Arianespace Mission Director

2) In the second room, there are :

• The Director of CNES/CSG assisted by the Deputy-Director who is responsible for Protection, Safety and the Environment (SDP). The latter is also Director of the Emergency Services.
• The CNES Technical Authority (Deputy-Director for Operations, Heads of all Departments and a representative of the Ground Sub-Directorate).
• The Flight Team (Flight Director, Arianespace Chairman and CEO and the CNES Launch Director).
• Representatives of the Arianespace Marketing and Communications Directorate and of the satellite customers.
• The CNES Security Director
• The European Space Agency, which runs the Ariane Programme and is also co-owner of the ground facilities.

3) The third room, where guests, VIPs and the general public can watch the launch countdown live.