Ariane 6

At the Guiana Space Centre, the construction of the future Ariane 6 launch site, called “ELA-4”, is a large-scale project involving some 700 people. This future launch site is being built by the French Centre for Space Studies (CNES), which has been tasked with management of the ground segment of Ariane 6 as part of the design and build mission delegated by the European Space Agency (ESA).

This launch site is the ninth such site to be built at the Guiana Space Centre and the fourth site for Ariane. It is 3.5km from the current ELA-3 of Ariane 5, along the “Route de l’Espace” (Space road) that leads to the Soyuz Launch complex. Its main structures are the launch pad, the mobile gantry and the launch assembly building. It will also feature a water tower, liquid oxygen and hydrogen storage areas.

Expected to last four years, this project is managed by Eclair6, a group of 46 companies coordinated by Eiffage Génie Civil. The project covers some 170 hectares and is set to cost 600 million Euros. The maiden launch of Ariane 6 is scheduled to take place in July 2020. The site is expected to become fully operational by 2024, supporting at least 11 launches per year.

Photo: Ariane 6 launch site– View of the launch pad during construction – © Rémy Decourt