Ariane 6 launch pad construction

Teams from Eiffage recently supported CNES (the French national space agency) and the ESA (European Space Agency) in the construction of the launch pad for the Ariane 6 launch vehicle. This huge project was made possible through collaboration between our business lines and their combined expertise: Eiffage Génie Civil, Eiffage Métal, Eiffage Route, SEH Engineering and Eiffage Énergie Systèmes.

Ariane 6: four Eiffage business lines mobilised for an immense project

Photo of the Ariane 6 rocket taking off
© CNES/ESA/Arianespace-ArianeGroup/Optique Vidéo CSG/S.Martin-P.Piron, 2024

On 9 July 2024, the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched the Ariane 6 vehicle for the first time. The Eiffage teams are proud to have played their part in the Ariane 6 space adventure with construction of the launch pad:

 

  • Eiffage Génie Civil: infrastructure works package for the Ariane 6 launch facility. 
  • Eiffage Métal: construction of a mobile gantry to lift the launch vehicle and position it on the launch table, and to raise the payload fairing prior to lift-off. 
  • Eiffage Route: construction of roads and utility networks.
  • Eiffage Énergie Systèmes: installation of infrastructure for the launch pad: the security and electrical systems, monitoring and control systems, test bench, automated workshop, and launch area lighting.

L’ élément suivant est une vidéo Video - Ariane 6: four Eiffage business lines mobilised for an immense project

Key project dates

  • 2016: The Eclair6 consortium, led by Eiffage Génie Civil and including Eiffage Métal, Eiffage Route, SEH Engineering, Eiffage Énergie Systèmes, Axima and ICOP (I.CO.P. S.p.A.), is awarded the infrastructure works package for the Ariane 6 launch facility (ELA 4) at the Guiana Space Centre.
  • 2016–2021: Work is in full swing with the construction of all ELA 4 structures, including the launch pad base and its two exhaust tunnels, the gantry, the launcher assembly building, the water tower and lightning protection masts.
  • 2021: Inauguration of the launch pad.
  • 9 July 2024: First Ariane 6 launch.

Key figures

  • • 650 people
    involved at peak times
  • • 7,000 tonnes
    of framework
  • • 4 business lines
    mobilised

Eiffage Génie Civil: infrastructure works package for the Ariane 6 launch facility

Photo of the Ariane 6 rocket launch pad

Eiffage Génie Civil’s contribution includes:

 

  • Construction of all ELA 4 structures, including the launch pad base and its two exhaust tunnels.
  • Mobile gantry (90 metres tall and weighing 8,000 tonnes).
  • Launcher assembly building.
  • Water tower.
  • Lightning protection masts.

All this work required 60,000 m3 of concrete, 9,000 tonnes of reinforcement, 400,000 m3 of earthworks and 8,700 tonnes of metal frames.

Learn more about Eiffage Génie Civil's expertise in the Ariane 6 project
 

Eiffage Métal: mobile gantry construction

Photo of the Ariane 6 rocket launch pad
©CNES/ESA/Arianespace-ArianeGroup/Optique Vidéo CSG/P Piron, 2023

Construction of a mobile gantry 90 metres tall, 50 metres wide and weighing 8,000 tonnes, which lifts and positions the launch vehicle on its launch table, raises the satellite fairing, and facilitates pre-lift-off configuration of the launcher.

Eiffage Métal’s area of responsibility for the Ariane 6 project includes:

  • 6,000 tonnes of roofing and cladding.
  • A secure lifting system to raise and position the launcher.
  • Mechanical systems and access points to facilitate final preparation tasks (including connecting the boosters).
  • A rollout system to move the entire building the length of a 140-metre track, using 16 bogeys and 128 synchronised electric motors.

 

Learn more about Eiffage Métal's expertise in the Ariane 6 project
 

L’ élément suivant est une vidéo Video - Ariane 6 mobile gantry

Eiffage Énergie Systèmes: installation of infrastructure for the launch pad, Soyuz (the rocket) and Vega (the launcher)

Photo of the Ariane 6 rocket
@ESA-CNES-ArianeGroup-Arianespace-Service Optique du CSG

With over 50 years’ experience in the space industry, Eiffage Énergie Systèmes worked on construction of the ELA 1, ELA 2 and ELA 3 launch pads, as well as Soyuz (the rocket) and Vega (the launcher). 
Eiffage Énergie Systèmes’ area of responsibility for the Ariane 6 project includes:

  • Security and electrical systems: electricity production and distribution, lightning protection, and perimeter security – video and intrusion detection.
  • Monitoring and control systems: computer system for launch stage control, launch preparation and final launch sequence tasks using the Syclone software solution, in partnership with GTD Systems & Software Engineering.
  • Test bench: testing and validation of the different launcher stages in Europe, also using Syclone.
  • Automated workshop: automated workshop 4.0 for production of Ariane 6 and Vega solid-fuel rocket engine nozzles.

 

Learn more about Eiffage Energie Systèmes' expertise in the Ariane 6 project