Guiana Space Centre 183717 217988004 2008-06-08T17:23:46Z Chagai 1817919 {{Launching/Ariane|type=launch site|role=support a launch}} The '''Guiana Space Centre''', or more commonly, '''Centre Spatial Guyanais''' (CSG) is a [[France|French]] [[spaceport]] near [[Kourou]] in [[French Guiana]]. Operational since 1968, it is particularly suitable as a location for a spaceport due to its proximity to the [[equator]], and the fact that launches in the favourable direction are over water. The [[European Space Agency]], the French space agency [[CNES]], and the commercial [[Arianespace]] company conduct launches from Kourou. The place was selected in 1964 to become the [[spaceport]] of [[France]]. When the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) was founded in 1975, France offered to share Kourou with ESA. Commercial launches are bought also by non-European companies. ESA pays two thirds of the spaceport's annual budget, and has also financed the upgrades made during the development of the [[Ariane (rocket)|Ariane]] launchers. == Facilities == [[Image:CSG Ariane 4 Launch Site.JPG|thumb|250px|The now-decommissioned ''ELA 2 - l'Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 2'' Ariane 4 launch site]] [[Image:CSG - BIF.JPG|thumb|250px|right|The final assembly building for Ariane 5]] Kourou is located approximately {{convert|500|km}} north of the equator, at a latitude of 5°10'. At this latitude, the Earth's rotation gives an additional velocity of approximately {{convert|500|m/s|mph km/h}} when the launch trajectory heads eastward. Therefore, manoeuvring the satellites to the desired orbit is usually a simpler process. The ground facilities at GSC include launcher (''l'Ensemble de Lancement'') and satellite preparation buildings, launch operation facilities and a solid propellant factory. GSC covers a total of {{convert|850|km2}}. === ELV (CECLES/ELA-1)=== {{main|ELA-1}} '''ELV - l'Ensemble de Lancement Vega''' was originally built in the 1960s under the name of '''CECLES''' (''Conférence Européenne de Construction de Lanceurs et d'Engins Spatiaux'' - <small>European conference on construction of launchers and spacecraft</small>.) for the [[Europa rocket|Europa-II]] rocket. One Europa-II was launched from the site, before the programme was cancelled. The pad was demolished, and subsequently rebuilt as the first launch complex for Ariane rockets, '''ELA - l'Ensemble de Lancement Ariane''', later redesignated '''ELA 1''', which was used for [[Ariane 1]], [[Ariane 2 and 3|2 and 3]] launches until it was retired in 1989.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.geocities.com/launchreport/padsites.html | title = Pad List - World Launch Sites | publisher = Space Launch Report}}</ref> It is being rebuilt to support launches of the [[Vega (launcher)|Vega]] rocket, under the current designation of '''ELV'''. === ELA 2 === '''ELA 2 - l'Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 2''' (located at 5.232 N, 52.776 W) was used for [[Ariane 4]] launches until 2003. === ELA 3 === {{main|ELA-3}} '''ELA 3 - l'Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 3''' is currently in active use for [[Ariane 5]] launches. These facilities cover {{convert|21|km2}}.<ref> {{cite web | title = Europe's spaceport | url = http://www.esa.int/esaCP/GGGMGNF3KCC_Expanding_0.html | publisher = ESA}}</ref> === ELS / Soyuz at CSG=== {{update}} ESA is currently building '''ELS - l'Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz<!--Oui, SoyOuz in French--->''' for launching [[Russia]]n-built [[Soyuz launch vehicle|Soyuz rockets]] from this spaceport near [[Sinnamari]], a village {{convert|10|km}} north of the site used for the Ariane-5. Under the terms of a Russo-European joint venture, ESA will augment its own launch vehicle fleet with Soyuz rockets (and use them to launch ESA and/or commercial payloads) and the Russians will get access to the Kourou spaceport for launching their own payloads with Soyuz rockets. They will use the Guiana Space Centre as an alternative to their [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]], [[Kazakhstan]] launching site, with the benefit of significantly added payload capability due to the before-mentioned position near the [[equator]]. A Soyuz rocket with a 1.7 tonnes GTO performance from Baikonur will increase its payload to 2.8 tonnes from Guiana<ref>{{fr icon}} [http://www.cnes.fr/web/4143-lensemble-de-lancement-soyuz.php Le Port Spatial de l'Europe (CNES)]</ref>. The project is being co-funded by [[Arianespace]], [[ESA]], and the [[European Union]], with [[CNES]] being the prime contractor. The project has a projected cost of approximately €320 million, where €120 million are allocated for modernizing the Soyuz vehicle <ref>[http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Europe_To_Pay_Russia_To_Build_Soyuz_Pad_At_Kourou_Russia.html Europe To Pay Russia To Build Soyuz Pad At Kourou: Russia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The official opening of the launch site construction occurred on [[February 27]], [[2007]]. Excavation work however, started several months before and groundworks are still continuing as of May 2008. The flame pit is substantially complete, as is the shell of the Soyuz assembly building. Launch towers manufactured in Russia are expected to arrive before end of H2 2008 along with Russian technicians for the installation of the necessary infrastructure and support facilities for operating the Soyuz launch vehicle. The maiden launch of Soyuz from CSG is currently planned for late 2009. <ref>[http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM0Q3N0LYE_index_0.html ESA Portal - Official opening of the Soyuz launch base construction site in French Guiana<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In November 2007, reports<ref name="Sinnamari1"> {{cite web | title =Thefts Place Russian Rocket Launches Under Threat In French Guiana | publisher =[[RIA Novosti]] / [[Spacewar.com]] | date= 2007-11-22 | url=http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Site_Thefts_Place_Russian_Rocket_Launches_Under_Threat_In_French_Guiana_999.html | accessdate =2007-11-26 }} </ref> emerged attributed to [[Vladimir Grezdilov]], general director of the Mir company, of thefts from the Soyuz site near Sinnamari, a village {{convert|10|km}} north of the site used for the Ariane-5, that might cause delays to its completion and the first launches. Grezdilov said that the local security company was involved. === Final assembly building === The Final Assembly Building is located {{convert|2.8|km}} from the ELA-3 launch zone. The mobile launch table completes the trip with an Ariane 5 in about one hour. It is then secured in place over the launch pad's flame ducts.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/mission_up_438.html | title = Ariane 5 rolls out for Arianespace's fifth launch of 2007 | publisher = Arianespace | date = [[November 8]], [[2007]]}}</ref> == Launch safety == Fire safety is ensured by a detachment of the [[Paris Fire Brigade]]. Safety around the base is ensured by [[French Gendarmerie]] forces, assisted by the [[3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment]] of the [[French Foreign Legion]]. The Guiana Space Centre (as per [[CNES]]) also holds the ''Îles du Salut'', a former penal colony including the infamous [[Devil's Island]]. Now a tourist site, the islands are under the launching trajectory for geosynchronous orbit and have to be evacuated during launches. == Recent launches == * [[2007-10-05]] - An Ariane 5 GS launched from CSG carrying [[Intelsat 11]] and [[Optus D2]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/releases/presrel07_10_05.html | title = Arianespace boosts Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 into orbit | publisher = Arianespace}}</ref> * [[2008-03-09]] - An Ariane 5 launched carrying the [[Automated Transfer Vehicle|ATV]] (Automated Transfer Vehicle) ''Jules Verne'' in preparation for docking with the [[International Space Station|ISS]]. This was the first launch of the [[esa|ESA's]] unmanned resupply craft. * [[2008-04-18]] - An Ariane 5 launched carrying [[Vinasat-1]] - Vietnam's first satellite. == References == {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.cnes.fr/web/4678-centre-spatial-guyanais-english-version.php Centre Spatial Guyanais official site] *[http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_Europe_s_Spaceport/index.html Europe's Spaceport] - Information from ESA *[http://www.arianespace.com/site/spaceport/spaceport_sub_index.html Europe's Spaceport] - Information from Arianespace *[http://stratocat.com.ar/bases/36e.htm List of Stratospheric Balloons launched from CSG] - Information from StratoCat <br /> {{Spaceport}} {{coor title dms|5|14|14|N|52|45|38|W}} [[Category:Spaceports]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in French Guiana]] [[Category:Rocket launch sites]] [[Category:French space program]] [[Category:European Space Agency]] [[Category:Space centres]] [[bg:Гвиански космически център]] [[ca:Port Espacial Europeu de Kourou]] [[cs:Guyanské kosmické centrum]] [[da:Kourou]] [[de:Centre Spatial Guyanais]] [[es:Puerto espacial de Kourou]] [[he:בסיס החלל האירופי קורו]] [[fa:پایگاه فضایی گویان]] [[fr:Centre spatial guyanais]] [[it:Centre Spatial Guyanais]] [[lv:Gviānas kosmiskais centrs]] [[lt:Kuru kosmodromas]] [[hu:Guyana Űrközpont]] [[nl:Centre Spatial Guyanais]] [[ja:ギアナ宇宙センター]] [[pl:Gujańskie Centrum Kosmiczne]] [[pt:Centro Espacial de Kourou]] [[ru:Куру (космодром)]] [[sk:Guyanské kozmické centrum]] [[fi:Guayanan avaruuskeskus]] [[sv:Centre Spatial Guyanais]] [[zh:蓋亞那太空中心]]