Opportunity for industry to visit Europe’s spaceport

The first Ariane launch complex, ELA-1, which is no longer in use, has been selected by the Vega Launch Site Working Group for Vega launches which are planned to start in 2006. The four Invitations to Tender (ITT) will cover all the work and systems needed to adapt ELA-1 for Vega launches.

The Vega ground segment consists of all existing, modified or new construction, facilities, equipment, services and software needed in Kourou and at other ground stations worldwide to ensure flight control and support the integration, processing, checkout, launch, telemetry, tracking, control and post flight analysis of the launch system.

The purpose of the visit is to show potential bidders the environment at Europe’s spaceport where all the infrastructure for the Vega ground segment will be implemented so that they can better prepare their offers in response to the following ITTs:

• Mechanical Infrastructure of the ground segment of the VEGA small launcher development (no. 02.189.01 – ITT planned to be issued week 14)
• Civil infrastructure of the ground segment of the VEGA small launcher development (no. 02.189.02 – ITT planned to be issued week 13)
• Operational computing system and operational software of the ground segment of the VEGA small launcher development (no. 02.189.03 – ITT planned to be issued week 14)
• Fluids process and general means of the ground segment of the VEGA small launcher development (no. 02.189.04 – ITT planned to be issued week-19)

Further information on all four ITTs can be found under Intended ITTs in EMITS, ESA’s Invitation to Tender system.

The precise dates for the visit and further details will be given in time for interested companies to make the necessary arrangements. All companies intending to submit an offer for one or more of the above ITTs and interested in the visit, are invited to contact via email:

Daphne Crowther, ESA Responsible Contracts Officer
Email: daphne.crowther@esa.int