SOYUZ AT CSG, EUROPE'S MEDIUM LAUNCHER

Soyuz at csg
EUROPE'S MEDIUM LAUNCHER

In 2011, the first pair of satellites for Europe's Galileo global navigation satellite system were lofted into orbit by the first Russian Soyuz vehicle ever launched from facilities at Europe’s Spaceport, CSG, Centre Spatial Guyanais. These were developed by ESA together with Roscomos, the Russian space agency, and Arianespace, the commercial operator.

Soyuz at Europe’s Spaceport complements Ariane and Vega perfectly, providing Europe with a full-range of launch services from Europe’s Spaceport, covering payloads from large to small and medium-sized satellites.

The Soyuz launcher, in its various configurations, has been the workhorse of Russia’s manned and unmanned space programme since the 1960’s with over 1760 launchers. The Soyuz launch vehicle that is used at Europe’s Spaceport is the Soyuz-2 version known as Soyuz-ST.

With a launch location close to the equator, Soyuz is able to carry up to 3 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit, compared to the 1.7 tonnes that can be launched from its traditional site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.