06 MÄRTS. 2009
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A Soyuz launcher took off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 21 October 2011. This was a historic event because it was the first time that a Soyuz was launched from a spaceport other than Baikonur or Plesetsk. It also marked a milestone in the strategic cooperation between Europe and Russia on launchers.
The decision to develop the launch infrastructure to enable Soyuz to be launched from French Guiana was of mutual interest to both Europe and Russia, and benefited from funding from the European Community.
Soyuz is a medium-class launcher. Its performance perfectly complemented that of the ESA launchers Ariane and Vega, and increased the competitiveness and flexibility of the exploitation of Ariane launchers in the commercial market.
The Soyuz launch vehicle that was used at Europe’s Spaceport is the Soyuz-2 version called Soyuz-ST. This included the Fregat upper stage and the ST fairing. Soyuz-2 was the most recent version of the renowned family of Russian launchers that began the space race more than 50 years ago by launching Sputnik, the first satellite placed in orbit, and then sending the first man into space.
Soyuz-2 had improved performance and carried up to 3 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit, compared to the 1.7 tonnes that can be launched from Baikonur, in Kazakhstan.
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Soyuz launch site
Geological and topographic surveys began at the site selected for Soyuz in 2003. The site, called ELS, is 13 km northwest of the Ariane launch site and consists of three main zones: the launch platform, the preparation area (MIK), where the three stages are assembled horizontally and checked, and the launch control centre.
Construction of the flame trench, the launch platform, the MIK and the control centre was completed at the end of 2008. The MIK connected to the launch platform by a 700-metre railway, which was used to transport the launcher in a horizontal position. The launch control centre was one kilometre from the launch pad.
Human spaceflight
The Soyuz rocket is the workhorse for Russian human space missions and has been used for that purpose longer than any other vehicle. In the 1960s it began carrying cosmonauts into space and then to the Soviet Salyut and Mir stations. Together with the US Space Shuttle, it ensured the transport of crews to and from the International Space Station.
To ensure that Soyuz was able to carry out missions of this type from Europe’s Spaceport, the launch infrastructure was designed so that it could be smoothly adapted for human spaceflight, should this have been decided.
The Soyuz launcher was withdrawn from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, with the last launch occurring in February 2022.
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Soyuz dry-run (time-lapse)
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International cooperation
ESA encourages cooperation with non-ESA Member States and carries out a number of space programmes and science missions in partnership with other agencies.
One Soyuz launcher, two Galileo satellites, three successes for Europe
PR 29 2011 - The first pair of satellites for Europe's Galileo global navigation satellite system has been lofted into orbit by the first Russian Soyuz vehicle ever launched from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana in a milestone mission.
ESA hands over keys to Soyuz launch site
The official ceremony marking ESA’s handover of the Soyuz launch site to Arianespace took place today at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, after the site was declared ready for the first flight and the completion of a simulated launch campaign.
First Soyuz almost ready for launch from French Guiana
The final countdown before its maiden flight later this year has begun for Soyuz with a simulated launch campaign at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
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Soyuz - Europe's launch site for Soyuz
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