Kourou's ELA-3 complex was built to process and launch the Ariane-5 vehicle. In the foreground is the launch stand, with three flame trenches, four lightning towers and (far left) a water tower to feed the pad's acoustic suppression system. At left background is the Batiment d'Assemblage Final (BAF), where the Ariane-5 stacking is completed before roll-out to the pad. To BAF's right is the Batiment d'Integration Lanceur (BIL), where the vehicle's 'lower composite' (below the level of the payload fairing) is stacked on the mobile platform. The P230 strap-on boosters are brought into BIL from the Batiment d'Integration Propulseur (BIP) in the far background. Even further in the background is the BEAP stand where seven P230's were test-fired. Ariane-4's ESA-2 launch complex is at right. [Image Date: 18-07-96] [96.07.017-005]