ELV (start ramp)
ELV ( E nsemble de L ancement V ega ) is a rocket launch pad of the Guiana Space Center , from which the European launcher Vega starts. In 1979 to 1991, the start ramp as was ELA-1 ( E nsembles de L ancement A riane ), respectively.
Ariane: 1973 to 1991
In 1973 the development of a launch pad for the Europa 2 began. After the cancellation of the Europe program and the start of the Ariane program, work began on the renovation of the launch pad for Ariane launches in 1975. After completion of the renovation work in 1978, the operational qualification took place on December 24, 1979 with the first successful start of the Ariane 1 .
Since the launch ramp only had one fixed launch table and the entire launch preparation had to be carried out on the ramp, the launch rate was limited to five launches per year. In order to be able to increase the start rate, ELA-2 went into operation in 1986. Due to the great similarity between the Ariane 1 and its successor models Ariane 2 and Ariane 3 , the ELA-1 was also used for launches of these missile types.
After three years of parallel use with ELV-2 and after the last launch of an Ariane 3 on July 11, 1989, the launch pad was finally shut down after a total of 25 launches. On June 21, 1991, ELA-1 was demolished.
Vega: 2004 to date
At the end of 2004, work began on converting the ELA-1 launch pad in order to be able to launch the newly developed European launch vehicle Vega for smaller payloads between 300 and 2500 kg from this launch pad, now known as the ELV . The first launch took place as a qualification flight on February 13, 2012 and transported nine satellites, including seven pico satellites from European universities, into orbit.