ELA-1

Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 1 / Ensemble de Lancement Vega

Launch site	Guiana Space Centre
Location	5.236°N 52.775°W / 5.236; -52.775
Short name	CECLES, ELA-1, ELV
Operator	European Space Agency CNES
Launch pad(s)	One
Launch history
Status	Active
First launch	5 November 1971 Europa II / STV-4
Last launch	13 February 2012 Vega / LARES et al
Associated rockets	Europa II Ariane 1 Ariane 2 Ariane 3 Vega

ELA-1, short for Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 1 (French for Ariane Launch Area 1), also known as Ensemble de Lancement Vega, ELV, and CECLES, is a launch pad at the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guyana. It has been used to support launches of the Europa rocket, Ariane 1, 2 and 3, and is currently being rebuilt as a launch site for the future Vega programme.

History

Europa (CECLES)

ELA-1, at the time designated CECLES 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 CECLES pad. This was designated Ensemble de Lancement Ariane, or ELA for short. The first Ariane 1 launch occurred on 24 December 1979. ELA was also used by Ariane 2 and 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 (SLV)

A new launch pad built at ELA-1 and designated Site de Lancement Vega, or SLV, was constructed for the Vega rocket. Vega made its first launch from the complex on 13 February 2012.

See also

• Ariane 1
• Ariane 2 and 3
• Europa
• Vega

External links

• Encyclopedia Astronautica - Kourou