Three launch pads at Europe's Spaceport

2012 marks a new step for launchers from Europe's Spaceport: with the imminent launch of Vega, three launchers can now fly from Europe's Spaceport.

 
This image shows, for the first time, all three launch pads on the same photo: the Ariane 5 site on the right, the Soyuz complex in the background, at 13 km northwest of the Ariane 5 pad, and the new Vega site on the left.

The first Soyuz at Europe's Spaceport lifted off on 21 October 2011.

The new Vega site was originally used for Ariane 1 and Ariane 3 flights. The pad and infrastructure have been adapted for Vega and a new mobile gantry provides a protected environment to assemble and check the vehicle.

 Vega’s inaugural flight is set for February 2012.