View source for ELA-4

{{Short description|Launch pad at Kourou Space Centre, French Guiana}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox launch pad
| name        = Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 4<br />Ariane Launch Complex 4
| image       = ELA4 construction Nov 2019 2.jpg
| caption     = ELA-4 under construction in November 2019
| site        = [[Guiana Space Centre]]
| location    = {{coord|5.265|N|52.792|W|format=dms}}
| utc_offset  = −03
| time_zone   = [[Time in France|GFT]]
| short       = ELA-4
| established = September 2021
| operator    = [[Arianespace]]{{,}}[[ESA]]
| tlaunches   = 1
| paddetails  = {{Infobox launch pad/pad
| status        = Active
| first         = 9 July 2024
| first_details = [[Ariane 6]] ([[Ariane flight VA262|VA262]])
| last          =
| last_details  =
| rockets       = [[Ariane 6]]
}}
}}
'''ELA-4''' ({{langx|fr|'''Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 4'''|lit=Ariane Launch Complex 4}}) is a [[launch complex]] at the [[Guiana Space Centre]] in [[French Guiana]] supporting launches of the [[Ariane 6]] program. ELA-4 is located along the Route de l'Espace in the Roche Christine site, between the [[ELA-3]] and [[Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz|ELS]] launch facilities. The complex is composed of a launch pad with [[Gantry (rocketry)|mobile gantry]], an horizontal assembly building and a dedicated launch operations building.
== History ==
[[CNES]] was responsible for the construction of the Ariane 6 ground segments including the new launch pad. Earthworks on the {{convert|170|ha|adj=on}} launch site began at the end of June 2015 and was completed at the start of 2016. Four platforms were levelled to accommodate the launch pad, the liquid oxygen and hydrogen tanks and the assembly building. Civil engineering works on the flame trench and other buildings began in the summer of 2016 and ended in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.academie-air-espace.com/upload/doc/ressources/Launchers/slides/astorg.pdf |title=The Ariane 6 system: On board-ground interfaces and launch facility |date=2015-11-04 |publisher=CNES |language=French |access-date=2021-11-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Ariane_6 |title=Ariane 6 |date=2021-11-05 |publisher=ESA |access-date=2021-11-09}}</ref> The launch facility was inaugurated on 28 September 2021 in presence of most of the 600 workers employed at the site, 75% of which recruited locally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://presse.cnes.fr/en/ela-4-launch-complex-inaugurated-guiana-space-centre |title=ELA-4 launch complex inaugurated at Guiana Space Centre |date=2021-09-28 |publisher=CNES |access-date=2021-11-09}}</ref>
== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
|File:Chantier ELA-4 CSG Kourou.jpg |Earthworks for the flame trench in August 2017
|File:Chantier ELA4 août 2017 - Kourou 07.jpg |Horizontal assembly building construction in 2017
|File:ELA4 construction Nov 2019.jpg |Closeup view of the pad's flame diverters in 2019
}}
{{Wide image|Chantier ELA4 août 2017 - Kourou 08.jpg|500px|Panoramic view of ELA-4 construction in 2017}}
== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* Other Guiana Space Centre launch complexes:
** [[ELA-1]]/ELV
** [[ELA-2]]
** [[ELA-3]]
** [[Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz|ELS]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{CSG launch sites}}
{{Ariane}}
[[Category:Guiana Space Centre]]