Ariane 1 to 4 (1979 - 2003)

The Ariane programme was launched in 1973 by ESRO, the European Space Research Organisation. This former European organisation dedicated to space research was created in 1964 by ten European countries and merged with ELDO in 1975 to form the European Space Agency (ESA). 

The Ariane programme was designed to meet Europe’s need for its own launch facilities following the failure of the Europa programme. The aim was to no longer depend on the United States or Russia for access to space. The programme was based on the experience acquired by CNES in the 1960s, with the development of the Diamant launcher. 

Ariane 1 (1979-1986)

This European cooperation gave birth to Ariane 1, the first 3-stage heavy-lift launcher, capable of putting geostationary satellites weighing close to a tonne into orbit. Its maiden flight was successfully completed on 24 December 1979. 

In anticipation of the increasing size of the satellites, different versions of Ariane were developed in parallel, and Ariane 1 was quickly followed by Ariane 3 and then Ariane 2, both of which used the same launch pad. Its last flight took place on 22 February 1986.

Ariane 2 (1986-1989)

Ariane 2 would fly only six times. Its maiden flight on 31 May 1986 was a failure, but the next five were successful, until the last one on 2 April 1989. Ariane 2 represents a short but very important chapter in the history of European rockets. All three stages of the launcher were improved. The thrust of the Viking engines on the first and second stages was also increased, and the cryogenic third stage was lengthened so it could operate longer.

Ariane 3 (1984-1989)

The third version of Ariane launched into space 11 times between 1984 and 1989, with just one failure. With its liquid or solid propellant rocket motors, Ariane 3 stood out as the most powerful and adaptable of the three launchers.
Equipped with Ariane’s dual launch system (SYLDA), it could put two satellites into orbit simultaneously. Its last launch, Flight 32 on 12 July 1989, set a record for the heaviest payload put into geostationary transfer orbit with the Olympus 1 satellite (2.7 tonnes).
 

Ariane 4 (1988-2003)

The first Ariane 4 lifted off on 15 June 1988. In 15 years and with 116 launches, it suffered just three failures before the end of its career in 2003. Its exceptional reliability would ensure the commercial success of European launchers worldwide.

With six versions, Ariane 4 was extremely versatile. The first stage could hold two or four strap-on boosters, or none at all. This meant that it could lift into orbit satellites weighing from 2 to nearly 4.3 tonnes.
 

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Ariane 1, 2 and 3 launch facilities (ELA1)

ELA-1, the first Ariane launch facilities, was built between 1975 and 1978 on the site of the former Europa 2 launch facilities, with the intention of recovering the pre-existing facilities. The buildings, and in particular the gantry, were adapted to the new launcher.

In 1978, the modification work was completed, enabling a full-scale model of Ariane to stand on the launch pad for the first time. This model was not intended to fly, but to be used for the qualification and certification of on-board and ground fluid systems.

Inaugurated with Ariane 1 on 24 December 1979, the facilities were subsequently used for Ariane 2 and 3 launchers, for a total of 25 launches. Four to five launches could be accomplished from these launch facilities, with two-month preparation campaigns.

Operations came to a halt with the last Ariane 3 launch in 1989, before the facilities were dismantled in June 1991. Disused for almost 20 years, the ELA1 would then be renovated to become the Vega launch complex (ELV) for Europe’s new light-lift launcher. It is now used for Vega-C. 

Ariane 4 launch facilities (ELA2)

Décidée en août 1981, la construction de cet ensemble de lancement était destinée à Ariane 3, mais surtout à Ariane 4 pour répondre à deux objectifs majeurs : donner plus de souplesse aux opérations de préparation, mais aussi augmenter la fréquence des lancements, jusqu'à 12 par an. Pour concevoir et construire ces installations, l'ESA mandate le CNES, auteur des ensembles de lancement précédents du CSG. L'exploitation est quant à elle confiée à la société Arianespace.

Decided on in August 1981, the construction of these launch facilities was intended for Ariane 3, but more particularly for Ariane 4. It had two major objectives: to give greater flexibility to preparation operations, and to increase the frequency of launches, up to 12 per year. ESA commissioned CNES (the French space agency), the designer of the previous launch facilities at French Guiana Space Centre, to design and build these facilities. Arianespace was put in charge of operations.

After two years of preliminary studies, construction would take just over two years and involve 500 people. An Ariane 3 launcher validated its smooth operation and lifted off from the new launch zone in March 1986. On 15 June 1988, after adaptation operations, the first Ariane 4 was successfully launched.

Innovative facilities

The Ariane 4 launch facilities were an original design: the launcher was no longer assembled directly in the launch zone, but on a mobile table in the heart of a preparation zone located behind the launch pad. 

This design enabled two launch campaigns to be carried out simultaneously. While a launcher was being erected, assembled and inspected in the preparation area, the previous launcher, erected on its mobile table in the launch zone, underwent pre-launch inspections. The two zones were linked by a 950-metre twin rail track, on which the table supporting the launcher moved. In the middle of the rail track, an air-cushioned turntable and an extra track allowed the tables to change tracks. 

Two mobile tables, weighing around 500 tonnes and supplied with electricity, gas and fluids, were used for the Ariane 4 launchers. 

These parallel preparations reduced the time between launches to three weeks.

Launch zone

Once in the launch zone, a final inspection was carried out on the launcher. The satellite was placed at the top and checked before being covered with the fairing. The launcher was connected to the ground facilities, filled with fuel and fluids, and the rocket boosters were assembled, if necessary: Ariane was ready for launch!

Launch centre

The launch centre was a two-level reinforced concrete building covered with a 2-m thick concrete slab and a 4-m layer of soil. It was a fallback zone capable of housing equipment and operators until the launcher lifted off. It was here that the remote control and command of the electrical and fluid systems took place, as well as the remote monitoring of the launcher and its environment, particularly during the launch sequence.

ELA 2 hosted 119 Ariane launches between 1986 and 2003: one Ariane 2, two Ariane 3 and 116 Ariane 4 launchers. Initially planned for 100 launches, this second launch facilities operated for the last time on 15 February 2003 with the last Ariane 4. They were finally dismantled in 2011.