The Soyuz launch complex
The Soyuz launch complex

Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre

The Soyuz launcher has placed more satellites in orbit than any other launcher in the world. It placed the first satellite in orbit (Sputnik in 1957) and the first man in Space (Yuri Gagarin in 1961). It has performed more than 1,700 launches. The Soyuz family also includes the Vostok, Sputnik and Molniya launchers. The idea of using this launcher from a launch centre such as the CSG has been discussed a lot over the last few years. The ideal geographic location of the European Space Port would give Soyuz access to a commercial telecommunication satellites market and would considerably increase its GTO performances (enabling it to increase its throw-weight capability from 1.7 tonnes at Baikonur to 2.8 tonnes at CSG!)

The Soyuz at CSG project

  • June 2002: the ESA council decided to open the Space Port at Kourou in Guiana to the Russian launcher SOYUZ
  • September 2002 to July 2003: preliminary design study financed by France jointly with CNES, ArianeSpace and Starsem, the Space Agency of the Russian Federation and the Russian companies Ts SKB Progress, KBOM and NPO-Lavotchkin.
  • July 2003: the Preliminary Design Review (RDP) concluded that the whole project was technically feasible. It also identified several points which needed to be consolidated: ground and flight safety, implementation of FREGAT (fourth stage) and the definition of the Launch Complex.
  • November 2003: an intergovernmental agreement was signed, committing France and the Russian Federation to enable commercial launches of SOYUZ from French Guiana.
  • On this basis, an optional programme was suggested to member states in order to get financing to adapt the SOYUZ launcher for launching from French Guiana and for building a new launch base. February 2004: the ESA council met, following which six members of ESA (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland) decided to participate in the programme through joint financing within the European Union
  • December 2004: The ESA council finalized the financing (by increasing funding and taking Austria on board) and decided on an effective programme kick-off date. France underwrote the European Investment Bank (BEI) loan of 121 million euros which was Arianespace’s share.

 

Three main objectives :

The building of a launch base for the Russian Launcher SOYUZ in French Guiana would meet three major objectives :

  • it would complement the launch services offered by the heavy launcher ARIANE 5 and the light launcher VEGA for medium mass satellites (for placing 3 tonnes in GTO),
  • it would clear the way for more cooperation between Europe and the Russian Federation for future launchers,
  • it would enable manned flights from the CSG.

The CSG SOYUZ programme includes :

  • building and validating the Soyuz Launch Complex (ELS),
  • adapting the SOYUZ launcher for operations from the CSG,
  • adapting the CSG and Ariane launch base (BLA) facilities,
  • providing and validating transport facilities
  • undertaking the first launch of SOYOUZ STKA from the CSG, with financing from ArianeSpace including qualification of the Soyuz launch system,
  • participating in development of the SOYUZ 2.IB version.

The current version of the SOYUZ/FREGAT launcher, which is being commercially operated at Baikonur by STARSEM, will be adapted to the French Guiana environment. Once the new launch base has been commissioned, the ‘adapted SOYUZ’ launcher will be operated by Arianespace and will have a throw weight capability of three tonnes for placing satellites in GTO, to complement that of 10 tonnes for GTO provided by Ariane 5 and the capability of VEGA for LEO orbiting.

 

The Soyuz Launch Complex (ELS)

 

The launch site was to be located in the north-west part of the European Space Port. This 120 hectare zone falls under the administrative authority of the city of Sinnamary. The launch site is on a granite layer, 27 km from the city of Kourou, 20 km from the Ariane Launch Complexes and 18 km from the city of Sinnamary.

The site was chosen in particular in order to :

  • reduce the cost of reinforced concrete construction and make a channel for evacuating combustion gases (flame chute) since the granite layer was close to the surface,
  • decrease constraints from other operations involving ARIANE 5 and VEGA, due to it being far enough away from other launch sites,
  • keep sufficient real estate in hand for manned flights.

The main components of the Soyuz launch complex (ELS)

The Launch Zone (ZL)

These include :

  • an underground bunker of several floors equipped with all systems necessary for implementing the launcher and for housing the related technical premises
  • a corresponding launch pad and equipment – umbilical masts,
  • lightning conductor masts,
  • premises adjoining the front zone (warehouses, basins, unpacking zone)
  • a Baikonur type flame chute exhaust for engine gases,
  • a mobile gantry enabling access to the vehicle once erected, integration of the upper composite on the launcher and withdrawal of the gantry for the launch,
  • the Preparation Zone (ZP) with its integration building (MIK) enlarged to enable separate preparation operations (assembly and testing) for the three-stage SOYUZ, the FREGAT stage and the related service (housekeeping) buildings,
  • the rear zone consisting of a control centre for operations before countdown, offices, security post and service production facilities,
  • the Launch Centre (CDL) used for final operations and the launch itself,
  • the ‘control and command’ system including an operational control-command post provided by the Russians and CCZ housekeeping control-command unit provided by the Europeans,
  • communication facilities including a system for communications and telemetry as well as optical sound and video facilities, etc.

 

For more information on the Soyuz launcher