[ intro music ]
Hello and welcome to Europe's Spaceport
in Kourou, French Guiana.
This is the last stop for many missions
before going into space,
but it's also the place where the result of international cooperation
and technological advances come together to ensure
Europe's independent access to space.
[ music - punchy rhythm ]
This is French Guiana:
an overseas department of France in South America.
Here, you find tropical climate, dense rainforests, extensive beaches
and the occasional controlled explosion.
[ multiple blasts ]
Owing to its nearness to the equator,
this is an ideal geographical location for launching satellites into any orbit.
In addition, there's no risk of cyclones or earthquakes.
While the Spaceport serves clients from across the globe,
it is under the responsibility of the French Space Agency - CNES -
and infrastructures are funded by the European Space Agency.
Within CNES, we operate the launch base,
we make sure that the launch can be
done in full security, full safety.
We provide our support to Arianespace
as launch service provider
and we take care of all the infrastructure
of this launch base.
[ music - slower drumming ]
[Narrator:] Not only is this the site where satellites come to be launched,
it's where some of the rocket boosters are prepared.
Boosters provide most of the thrust at liftoff.
Filling them with fuel involves the careful process
of mixing and casting highly explosive material,
all under vigilant supervision.
Once prepared, the boosters are stored upside down.
The ones we see here are for the Ariane 5 rocket.
Each section is standing about 10 metres tall
to make up a single 30 metre booster.
The next step is to assemble the rocket stages,
which has traditionally been done vertically.
But, for the development of Ariane 6, new buildings have been designed
for horizontal assembly, which saves time and money.
[Bruno Gérard:] We are now beginning the transition next year
between Ariane 5 and Ariane 6.
We hope in three years
to finish the exploitation of Ariane 5
and to have a full operational capacity
on Ariane 6.
Soyuz will remain accessible if necessary in case of
opportunities on the commercial market.
[ music - grunge style ]
[Narrator:] Ariane 6 is Europe's new launch vehicle,
capable of carrying a wide range of missions into orbit.
This new rocket requires a unique launch zone
complete with its own assembly building,
90 metre tall mobile gantry and massive launch pad.
[Patrice Plotard:] The next important goal
is to put together - let's say -
the launch pad and the launcher
during the combined test and, just after,
to perform the maiden flight
of Ariane 6 in 2020.
[Narrator:] The teams at the Spaceport are also preparing for Vega-C:
the next generation of the small Vega launcher,
capable of placing multiple payloads into orbit.
The main difference between Vega and Vega-C
is the first two stages.
So, the launcher, it will be heavy
and longer to be much more powerful
to be able to send [into] orbit
satellites heavier and bigger.
[ music - relaxed orchestra based ]
[Narrator:] To provide the extra power
to both Vega-C and Ariane 6 to launch heavier satellites,
a new solid rocket motor, called P120C, has been developed.
Here we see one fully loaded with 142 tonnes of fuel configured for Vega-C.
[ blast rippling ]
It was static fired at the Spaceport test stand
for a final simulation of liftoff and the first phase of flight.
[ sound of helicopter ]
While preparations continue for these new rockets,
the Spaceport remains operational
with multiple launch campaigns throughout the year
to bring satellites into space.
It's a very fluid environment.
And, what people have to remember is
that even though we do a lot of launch campaigns
and we launch a lot of satellites, every satellite is different
and every launch campaign is different.
So, you can never say this is really standard.
There's no such thing as a normal day in the office
[ music - techno style - pulsating ]
[ controller issuing radio directions ]
[Narrator:] Control centres, clean rooms and launcher assembly halls are a far cry
from a normal office environment
and come with an element of risk,
but the employees of the Spaceport take extra precautions
to minimise these risks every step of the way,
even after a rocket has left the ground.
[Didier Faivre:] We are able to make
a precise localisation of the launcher
and, in case of danger,
we are able to destroy the launcher
in order to make sure that nobody here
in Guiana may be affected by this failure.
[Narrator:] Since the 1960s, the Spaceport has provided
independent access to space for Europe
and continues to be forward-looking.
[Faivre:] It's time now to do a new step
in modernisation of the launch base,
in particular, to accompany the initiation
of the Ariane 6 and Vega-C launches.
So, that's what we are preparing now
with the support of our colleagues in ESA
here in Kourou and in Paris.
And, that's where we prepare.
The future will be then to operate Ariane 6 and Vega-C
and to offer the same level of high-level services to our customers,
and maybe also towards the new operators.
As you know, there are a lot of new initiatives in the field of
micro mini launchers and Kourou could be the launch base.
[Narrator:] Looking to the future is not only about advances in
technology and engineering, but new expertise.
It's up to the next generation of professionals
to continue the legacy of European cooperation in space.
We really try to encourage:
a. young Europeans to come and visit
& b. young Europeans to come and work,
because it's an extremely exciting place to be.
For more on Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana,
you can visit our website at www.esa.int.
I'm Kelsea Brennan-Wessels, thanks for watching.
[ outro music ]