ELV () is a
launch complex at the
Guiana Space Centre
The Guiana Space Centre (; CSG), also called Europe's Spaceport, is a spaceport to the northwest of Kourou in French Guiana, an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas region of France in South America. Kourou is located approxim ...
in
French Guiana
French Guiana, or Guyane in French, is an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. Bordered by Suriname to the west ...
supporting launches of the
Vega and
Vega C rockets. It was first built in November 1971 and was previously used to support launches of the
Europa,
Ariane 1
Ariane 1 () was the first rocket in the Ariane family of expendable launch systems. It was developed for and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), which had been formed in 1973, the same year that development of the launcher had commenc ...
and
Ariane 3 rockets.
History
Europa (BEC)
ELA-1, at the time designated BEC () was constructed as an equatorial launch site for the
Europa-II rocket which was being built as part of the
ELDO programme. The first launch occurred on 5 November 1971. This was the only flight of the Europa-II, which ended in failure due to a guidance problem. The launch site was mothballed, and later demolished.
Ariane (ELA)
When the
Ariane 1
Ariane 1 () was the first rocket in the Ariane family of expendable launch systems. It was developed for and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), which had been formed in 1973, the same year that development of the launcher had commenc ...
programme was started, to replace the failed ELDO programme, a new launch site was built on the site of the former BEC, re-designated as ELA (). The first
Ariane 1
Ariane 1 () was the first rocket in the Ariane family of expendable launch systems. It was developed for and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), which had been formed in 1973, the same year that development of the launcher had commenc ...
launch occurred on 24 December 1979. ELA was also used by
Ariane 2 and
Ariane 3 rockets, which first flew on 31 May 1986 and 4 August 1984 respectively. ELA was redesignated ELA-1 when the
Ariane 4 entered service in 1988, as this launched from a separate launch pad, designated
ELA-2. The Ariane 1 was retired on 22 February 1986, the Ariane 2 on 2 April 1989, and the Ariane 3 on 12 July 1989. ELA was subsequently demolished.
Vega (ELV)
In November 2001, started the redevelopment of the pad to accommodate the
Vega rocket and the ELA-1 was redesignated ELV. The reconstruction retained the Ariane 1 flame trench and added a new 50 m tall retractable vertical assembly building to cover the rocket during the preparation, four lighting protection masts and a new launch tower for the rocket. The launchpad is sometimes also designated as ''Site de Lancement Vega'' (SLV) and ''Zone de Lancement Vega'' (ZLV). Vega made its first launch from the complex on 13 February 2012.
Launch history
Launch graph
Launch chart
''Situation on 10 October 2023''
See also
*
Ariane 1
Ariane 1 () was the first rocket in the Ariane family of expendable launch systems. It was developed for and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), which had been formed in 1973, the same year that development of the launcher had commenc ...
*
Ariane 2
*
Ariane 3
*
Ariane (rocket family)
Ariane is a series of European civilian expendable launch vehicles for space launch use. The name comes from the French spelling of the mythological character Ariadne. France first proposed the Ariane project and it was officially agreed upon at ...
*
Europa
*
Vega
*
ELA-2
*
Centre Spatial Guyanais
The Guiana Space Centre (; CSG), also called Europe's Spaceport, is a spaceport to the northwest of Kourou in French Guiana, an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas region of France in South America. Kourou is located approxim ...
References
External links
Encyclopedia Astronautica – Kourou
{{Ariane
Guiana Space Centre