Earlier today, our @esaoperations twitter channel solicited questions on the ongoing (and soon to end!) ATV-3 launch preparations at Kourou. @LBTaikonauta posted:

LBTaikonauta: @esaoperations do you use local technicians, or all of them European?

We passed the query to ESA’s Charlotte Beskow, ATV deputy launch campaign manager, and her answer is below (after the jump).

Arianespace is responsible for the contract to launch our vessel. They procure the necessary services from CNES (the French space agency) and CSG – the Centre Spatial Guyanais.

CSG staff the various facilities at Kourou (buildings, provision of basic mechanical support equipment, safety personnel, transportation services, etc.) as well as the local launch ground equipment and installations in Kourou (radars, telemetry, telecommunications, etc.).

The Arianespace people perform ‘launcher integration’ – the complex task of mating ATV to the Ariane 5 launch vehicle – as well as those tasks where we are directly interfacing with the Ariane 5 launcher (from start of hoisting ATV to place it on top of the launcher to separation in orbit).

In addition:

  • ATV fuel loading (Russian fuel): Performed by Astrium and Lampholdhausen
  • ATV loading of fuel for Russian segment : Thales Alenia Space – Italy & Astrium with support of RSCE-Energia
  • ATV gas and water loading: Astrium & TAS-I
  • ATV dry cargo loading: ESA & Industrial Operations Team (TAS-I and Astrium) & Astrium