The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicThe inaugural launch of Soyuz from Europe's Spaceport will take place during the last quarter of 2010.
Soyuz will soon complement the range of launchers available from the Centre Spatial Guyanais at Kourou, enabling Arianespace to offer all types of orbits for all kind of satellites in future.
Work is in progress not only at the specially built new launch pad but also on testing the historical rocket, upgraded for future lift-off from the equatorial base.
This story shows the first Soyuz launcher being prepared in Guiana and the status of the new launch pad with interviews of the main actors of this cooperation: Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General; Yannick d'Escatha, CNES President; Jean-Yves Le Gall, Arianespace Chairman and CEO and Anatoly Perminov, Roscosmos Director.