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ELA-1

{{Short description|Launch pad at the Centre Spatial Guyanais}}

{{refimprove|date=May 2008}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox launch pad

| name = Ensemble de Lancement Vega
Vega Launch Area

| image = Ensemble de lancement Vega.jpg

| caption = ELV launch pad in 2017

| site = Guiana Space Centre

| location = {{coord|5.236|N|52.775|W|format=dms}}

| utc_offset = −03

| time_zone = GFT

| short = ELV

| operator = Arianespace{{,}}ESA

| tlaunches = {{Unbulleted list

| 52:

| {{in5|3}} 1 Europa II

| {{in5|3}} 11 Ariane 1

| {{in5|3}} 5 Ariane 2

| {{in5|3}} 9 Ariane 3

| {{in5|3}} 22 Vega

| {{in5|3}} 4 Vega C

}}

|paddetails = {{Infobox launch pad/pad

| status = Active

| first = 5 November 1971

| first_details = Europa II (STV-4)

| last = 29 April 2025

| last_details = Vega C (BIOMASS)

| rockets = Active: Vega C
Retired: Europa II, Ariane 1, Ariane 2, Ariane 3, Vega

}}

}}{{Kourou launch pad map|highlight=3}}ELV ({{Langx|fr|Ensemble de Lancement Vega|lit=Vega Launch Complex}}) is a launch complex at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana 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 and Ariane 3 rockets.

History

= Europa (BEC) =

ELA-1, at the time designated BEC ({{Langx|fr|Base Équatoriale du CECLES|lit=CECLES Equatorial Base}}) 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 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 ({{Langx|fr|Ensemble de Ariane|lit=Ariane Launch Complex}}). The first Ariane 1 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/VEGA/ELV.htm|title=BEC, ELA, ELV, d'EUROPA à VEGA|access-date=2018-08-23|website=|publisher=Capcomespace}} 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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.arianespace.com/spaceport-facility/operations/|title=Operations|date=|access-date=2015-12-31|website=|newspaper=Arianespace|last=|first=}}

Launch history

= Launch graph =

{{#invoke:Chart | bar chart

| float = center

| width = 700

| height = 300

| stack = 1

| group 1 = 1:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0

| group 2 = 0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:1: 1:2:1:2:2: 1:1:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0

| group 3 = 0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:1:0:2:2: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0

| group 4 = 0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:2: 3:0:1:2:1: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0

| group 5 = 0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:1:1:1: 3:2:3:2:2: 2:3:0:1:1: 0

| group 6 = 0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:2:0:1: 1

| colors = Firebrick : Blue : Cyan : Teal : Burlywood : Sienna

| group names = Europa II : Ariane 1 : Ariane 2 : Ariane 3 : Vega : Vega C

| x legends = 1971:::: 1975::::: 1980::::: 1985::::: 1990::::: 2010::::: 2015::::: 2020::::: 2025

| y tick marks = 4

| units suffix = _launches

}}

= Launch chart =

class="wikitable"

! N°

! Date

! Flight

! Launcher

! Payload

! Result

! References

1

| 5 November 1971

| F-11

| style="text-align: center;" | Europa II

| satellite mockup

| {{Failure}}

| {{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/fam/europa.htm|title=Europa|website=Encyclopedia Astronautica|access-date=2015-12-31|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000914/http://www.astronautix.com/fam/europa.htm|archive-date=2016-03-04}}

2

| 24 December 1979

| L-1

| rowspan="9" style="text-align: center;" | Ariane 1

| CAT-1

| {{Success}} {{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/a/ariane1.html|title=Ariane 1|date=|website=Encyclopedia Astronautica|publisher=|access-date=2022-12-10}}

3

| 23 May 1980

| L-2

| Firewheel Subsat-1,2,3,4
Amsat P3A
CAT 2

| {{Failure}}

|

4

| 19 June 1981

| L-3

| Meteosat 2
Apple
CAT 3

| {{Success}}

5

| 20 December 1981

| L-4

| MARECS 1
CAT 4

| {{Success}}

6

| 9 September 1982

| L-5

| MARECS B
Sirio 2

| {{Failure}}

7

| 16 June 1983

| L-6

| ECS 1
Amsat P3B (Oscar 10)

| {{Success}}

8

| 19 October 1983

| L-7

| Intelsat 507

| {{Success}}

9

| 5 March 1984

| L-8

| Intelsat 508

| {{Success}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/kouuela1.htm|title=Kourou ELA 1|website=Encyclopedia Astronautica|access-date=2015-12-31

|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000301/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/kouuela1.htm|archive-date=2016-03-04}}

10

| 23 May 1984

| V-9

| Spacenet F1

| {{Success}}

11

| 4 August 1984

| V-10

| rowspan="4" style="text-align: center;" | Ariane 3

| Eutelsat 2
Telecom 1A

| {{Success}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/a/ariane3.html|title=Ariane 3|date=|website=Encyclopedia Astronautica|publisher=

|access-date=2022-12-10}}

12

| 10 November 1984

| V-11

| Spacenet F2
MARECS 2

| {{Success}}

13

| 8 February 1985

| V-12

| Arabsat-1A
Brasilsat-A1

| {{Success}}

14

| 8 May 1985

| V-13

| GStar 1
Télécom 1B

| {{Success}}

15

| 2 July 1985

| V-14

| style="text-align: center;" | Ariane 1

| Giotto

| {{Success}}

16

| 12 September 1985

| V-15

| style="text-align: center;" | Ariane 3

| Spacenet 3
ECS 3

| {{Failure}}

{{cite book|last=Harvey|first=Brian|title=Europe's Space Programme: To Ariane and Beyond|publisher=Book Springer Science & Business Media|date=February 14, 2003|pages=358–361|chapter=List of European space launchings|isbn=978-1-85233-722-3}}
17

| 22 February 1986

| V-16

| style="text-align: center;" | Ariane 1

| SPOT 1
Viking

| {{Success}}

colspan="7" | Flight V-17 (Ariane 3) was the first flight to launch from ELA-2 on 28 March 1986
18

| 31 May 1986

| V-18

| style="text-align: center;" | Ariane 2

| Intelsat VA F-14

| {{Failure}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/a/ariane2.html|title=Ariane 2|date=|website=Encyclopedia Astronautica

|publisher=|access-date=2022-12-10}}

19

| 16 September 1987

| V-19

| style="text-align: center;" | Ariane 3

| Aussat A3
ECS 4

| {{Success}}

colspan="7" | Flight V-20 (Ariane 2) launched from ELA-2 on 20 November 1987
20

| 11 March 1988

| V-21

| style="text-align: center;" | Ariane 3

| Spacenet 3R
Telecom 1C

| {{Success}}

colspan="7" | Flight V-22 (Maiden flight Ariane 4) launched from ELA-2 on 15 June 1988
21

| 17 May 1988

| V-23

| style="text-align: center;" | Ariane 2

| Intelsat VA F-13

| {{Success}}

22

| 21 July 1988

| V-24

| style="text-align: center;" | Ariane 3

| INSAT-1C
ECS 5

| {{Success}}

colspan="7" | Flight V-25 (Ariane 3) launched from ELA-2 on 8 September 1988
23

| 28 October 1988

| V-26

| style="text-align: center;" rowspan ="3" | Ariane 2

| TDF 1

|{{Success}}

24

| 27 January 1989

| V-28

| Intelsat VA F-15

| {{Success}}

25

| 2 April 1989

| V-30

| Tele-X

| {{Success}}

26

| 11 July 1989

| V-32

| style="text-align: center;" rowspan ="1" | Ariane 3

| Olympus-1

| {{Success}}

colspan="7" | Flights V27, V29 and V31 were launched from ELA-2. V27, V29 and V31 were all operated by Ariane 4{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/kouuela2.htm|title=Kourou ELA-2|website=Encyclopedia Astronautica|access-date=2015-12-31|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201090427/http://astronautix.com/sites/kouuela2.htm|archive-date=2010-02-01}}
style="color:white;"

| colspan="7" style="background-color:darkGrey;"| From July 1989 until February 2012, no rockets were launched from ELA-1. As an alternative, ELA-2 and ELA-3 were used.
In November 2001, construction works started to prepare the pad for the lightweight Vega rocket.

27

| 13 February 2012

| VV-01

| style="text-align: center;" rowspan="20" | Vega

|

| {{Success}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.arianespace.com/vega-milestones/|title=Vega Milestones|date=|website=|newspaper=Arianespace|access-date=2015-12-31|quote=}}
28

| 7 May 2013

| VV-02

|

| {{Success}}

|

29

| 30 April 2014

| VV-03

| KazEOSat 1

| {{Success}}

|

3011 February 2015VV-04IVX{{Success}}
3123 June 2015VV-05Sentinel-2A{{Success}}
323 December 2015VV-06LISA Pathfinder{{Success}}
3316 September 2016VV-07PeruSat-1
4 Terra Bella satellites		{{Success}}
345 December 2016VV-08Göktürk-1A{{Success}}
359 March 2017VV-09Sentinel-2B{{Success}}
362 August 2017VV-10OPTSAT-3000
VENμS		{{Success}}
378 November 2017VV-112 MN35-13 satellites{{Success}}
3822 August 2018VV-12ADM-Aeolus{{Success}}
3921 November 2018VV-13Mohammed VI-B{{Success}}
4022 March 2019VV-14PRISMA{{Success}}
4111 July 2019VV-15FalconEye 1{{Failure}}
4203 September 2020VV-16* Athena

| {{Success}}

4317 November 2020VV-17* SEOSat-Ingenio

| {{Failure}}

4429 April 2021VV-18* Pléiades Neo 3

  • NorSat-3
  • Bravo (cubesat)
  • ELO Alpha (cubesat)
  • Lemur-2 × 2 (cubesats)

| {{Success}}

4517 August 2021VV-19* Pléiades Neo 4

  • BRO-4 (cubesat)
  • LEDSAT (cubesat)
  • RADCUBE (cubesat)
  • SUNSTORM (cubesats)

| {{Success}}

4616 November 2021VV-20CERES × 3

| {{Success}}

4713 July 2022VV-21rowspan=2 |Vega-C* LARES 2

  • ALPHA (cubesat)
  • AstroBio CubeSat (cubesat)
  • CELESTA (cubesat)
  • GreenCube (cubesat)
  • MTCube-2 (cubesat)
  • TRISAT-R (cubesat)

| {{Success}}

{{cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Ian |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/07/vega-c-debut-launch/ |title=ESA launches upgraded Vega-C rocket on first mission |work=NASASpaceFlight |date=13 July 2022 |access-date=13 July 2022}}
4821 December 2022VV-22Pléiades Neo 5 & 6{{Failure}}{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/12/21/two-pleiades-neo-earth-imaging-satellites-lost-in-failure-of-europes-vega-c-rocket/ |title=Two Pléiades Neo Earth-imaging satellites lost in failure of Europe's Vega C rocket |work=Spaceflight Now |date=21 December 2022 |access-date=21 December 2022}}
499 October 2023VV-23|Vega* THEOS-2

  • TRITON
  • ANSER × 3 (cubesats)
  • CSC × 2 (cubesats)
  • ESTCube-2 (cubesat)
  • MACSAT (cubesat)
  • N3SS (cubesat)
  • PRETTY (cubesat)
  • PVCC (cubesat)

| {{Success}}

{{cite press release |url=https://newsroom.arianespace.com/flight-vv23-success-to-the-benefit-of-thailand-taiwan-and-10-cubesats/ |title=Flight VV23: success to the benefit of Thaland, Taiwan and cubesats |date=9 October 2023 |access-date=10 October 2023 |work=Arianespace}}

Situation on 10 October 2023

See also

{{Portal|Spaceflight}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20120622122854/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/kourou.htm Encyclopedia Astronautica – Kourou]

{{CSG launch sites}}

{{Ariane}}

Category:Guiana Space Centre