The Soyuz at Guyana space center project: An overview

Abstract

Following the decision taken during the ESA Council in December 2004 to start the "Soyuz at CSG" program funded by seven European countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland) and ARIANESPACE, activities began in French Guyana in January 2005 to build a new launch pad for the Russian Soyouz ST launcher, and in the Federation of Russia to build associated ground equipments and to adapt the launcher. This papers recalls the Soyuz launcher definition and its adaptations for a launch from CSG and presents the overall design of the Soyuz Launch pad together with the future launch operations. One and a half year after project kick-off, a status of the development is made and the planning of the remaining activities until the first flight end of 2008 is also given.