July 28, 2008

The startup of Soyuz flight operations at Europe’s Spaceport is one major step closer to reality with today’s major delivery of hardware and systems for the workhorse vehicle’s new launch site in French Guiana.

Completing its trans-Atlantic voyage from St. Petersburg in Russia, the ship Flinterland brought 160 containers with infrastructure items for the operation of Soyuz and its Fregat upper stage, including the launch site’s service cabin – a major element that provides access to the vehicle on the pad.

This clears the way for arrival in French Guiana of the main contingent of Russian technicians, engineers and other specialists who will be responsible for completing the Soyuz launch facility, which already is well advanced in its preparation.

The medium-lift Soyuz will operate side-by-side with Arianespace’s heavy-lift Ariane 5 and lightweight Vega vehicles at the Spaceport, providing an unrivaled family of launchers that cover a full range of customer’s mission requirements.  Several contracts already have been signed for Soyuz launches from French Guiana, and we look forward to expanding its manifest with additional satellite payloads.

A new chapter is now being readied for Soyuz’ remarkable career, when the space industry’s most proven vehicle will be available for commercial missions from the world’s best launch site. The inaugural launch of Soyuz from the Guiana Space Center is scheduled for second half of 2009.

Jean-Yves LE GALL
Starsem Chairman & Chief Executive Officer