The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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The Ariane 5 ground installations (ELA 3) have been entirely financed by the ESA and are constituted of four main areas: br>
- the solid-propellant booster integration building
- the launcher integration building, BIL
- the final assembly building, BAF
- the launch zone.
Arianespace took possession of the ELA-3 facilities on 25th November 1997 and the formal handover ceremony occurred on the 4th March 1998.
In the 90-m high Final Assembly Building the upper composite, consisting of one or two satellites inside the Ariane fairing, is assembled on top of the lower composite to make a complete launcher. This takes about 12 days.