Vega launch site

The Vega launch site at Europe’s Spaceport is located the same location used for Ariane 1 and Ariane 3 missions, originally called ELA-1 for “Ensemble de Lancement Ariane”.

The pad and infrastructure have been adapted to meet Vega’s requirements. The original flame ducts that channel Vega’s exhaust gases during liftoff have been kept. A new umbilical mast provides power and air conditioning connections to the launcher and its payloads – from mission preparation to the final countdown and liftoff.

Preparation for launch takes place on the pad inside a mobile building that houses the support equipment to assemble and check the rocket.

The mobile building offers safe and convenient working conditions for launch personnel. The building is 50 m tall and weighs more than 1000 tonnes or 1 million kg.

The Vega launch complex was modified to accommodate the first launch of Vega-C in 2022. The mobile building was fitted with a more powerful travelling crane, new cantilever reinforcements, platform shutters, a new mast sector and pallets, and modified fluid services were installed on the launch pad.

An hour or so before launch the whole building rolls away to allow the Vega rocket a clear view of the skies and its destination: space.

Operational Control Centre

Vega-C’s operational control centre, known as Pandora, is located next to the Jupiter-2 control room at Europe’s Spaceport. The operational centre is like the cockpit of an aircraft, allowing monitoring and control of the rocket, whereas Jupiter is like airport traffic control monitoring and controlling all aspects of a launch including range safety and more.

The operational control centre for Vega was located about 1.5 km away from the launch pad at the launch control centre built for Ariane 5 – known as CDL3. A dedicated control room housed Vega’s operational and monitoring system there until the first launch of Vega-C when the centre was moved to Pandora.

Payload preparation complex

Vega payloads share some of the Ariane payload processing facilities. The payload preparation buildings accommodate satellite and control equipment unpacking, mechanical assembly work, electrical and mechanical inspections, and checking of platform and payload subsystems.

Final integration of the payload takes place at the complex before it is transferred to the launch pad for hoisting onto the top of Vega.

Vega-E

The next evolution of Vega, Vega-E, will be launched from the former Ariane 5 launch location, ZL-3 (Zone de Lancement-3)