Automated Transfer Vehicle
Construction of the station was completed in January 2008 under Ariane Development Programme in agreement between ESA and Portuguese government. A reason for building additional station was tracking of the medium inclination Ariane 5 launches and upcoming Vega along with Soyuz from Guiana Space Centre. The first launch tracked by newly build site was Ariane 5 ES flight V-181 lifting Automated Transfer Vehicle "Jules Verne" in March 2008.