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Feature story

Soyuz operations from French Guiana will expand Arianespace's commercial offer with another proven, reliable launcher

Paris Air Show 2005 - Le Bourget, France

June 16, 2005

The future introduction of Soyuz missions from the Spaceport in French Guiana will bring the industry's longest-operating launcher to the world's most modern launch base.

Flights with the medium-lift Soyuz will begin from the Spaceport in 2008, joining the ongoing operations of Arianespace's heavy-lift Ariane 5 and the lightweight Vega vehicle - which also will enter service at French Guiana during the same year.

Startup of Soyuz missions from the Spaceport will open a new chapter in the history of this robust vehicle, which introduced the space age with the launch of Sputnik, the world's first satellite, in 1957. Since then, Soyuz has been in continuous production, demonstrating its unmatched reliability with more than 1,680 missions.

Two new versions of the Russian launcher will be used at the Spaceport: the Soyuz 2-1-a (which was qualified during a successful maiden flight last November from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia) and the Soyuz 2-1-b (to be qualified in 2006).

These versions incorporate modernized onboard systems (including a digital flight control system with a high-speed onboard computer), and are adapted for their use from the Spaceport with the introduction of a new telemetry system and a ground-operated range safety system.

While Soyuz launchers will continue to be integrated horizontally in French Guiana - as is the tradition for operations with the vehicle from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia and Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan - satellite payloads will be mated to the launcher after it is raised to the vertical position on the launch pad.

Performance of the Soyuz 2-1-a version from the Spaceport will be 2,700 kg. to geostationary transfer orbit, 1,180 kg. to medium Earth orbit, and 4,450 kg. to Sun-synchronous orbit (inclined 98 deg. and an altitude of 660 km.).

The Soyuz 2-1-b, which includes upgrades to its propulsion system, will have its payload lift capability to geostationary orbit increased by 300 kg. to 3,000 kg., while the performance to medium Earth orbit is 1,579 kg., and the Sun synchronous capacity is 4,900 kg.