ELA-1

Infobox Launch Pad
name = Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 1 / Ensemble de Lancement Vega
site = Guiana Space Centre
short = CECLES, ELA-1, ELV
location = 5.236 N, 52.775 W
inclination =
operator = European Space Agency
CNES
tlaunches =
pads = 1
status = Inactive
first = 5 November 1971
last = 12 July 1989
rockets = Europa-II
Ariane 1
Ariane 2
Ariane 3
Vega (future)

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 (ELV)

From 2008, the Vega rocket will be launched from a new launch pad, on the site of the former CECLES and ELA-1 pads, designated Ensemble de Lancement Vega, or ELV.

ee also

*Ariane 1
*Ariane 2 and 3
*Europa
*Vega

External links

* [http://www.astronautix.com/sites/kourou.htm Encyclopedia Astronautica - Kourou]