Guiana Space Centre
Overview
The Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais, CSG) is a French and European spaceport located near Kourou in French Guiana. It is geographically located in South America but is under the jurisdiction of the French government. The spaceport is primarily used by the European Space Agency (ESA), the French space agency CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales), and Arianespace.
History
The Guiana Space Centre was established in 1965 by the French government. The location was chosen due to its proximity to the equator, which allows the spaceport to take advantage of the Earth's rotation to help launch spacecraft into orbit. This geographical advantage allows for a significant increase in the payload capacity of the launch vehicles.
Facilities
The Guiana Space Centre is equipped with multiple launch pads, including those for the Ariane 5, Soyuz, and Vega rockets. The spaceport also has extensive facilities for the preparation of spacecraft and the integration of payloads with their launch vehicles.
Operations
The spaceport conducts numerous launches each year, primarily for commercial and scientific missions. The Guiana Space Centre is known for its high launch success rate, which is attributed to its advanced facilities and experienced personnel.
Economic Impact
The Guiana Space Centre plays a significant role in the economy of French Guiana. It provides numerous jobs and has fostered the development of a local aerospace industry. The spaceport also attracts tourists, further contributing to the local economy.
Future Plans
The Guiana Space Centre is continually being upgraded to accommodate new launch vehicles and technologies. Future plans include the development of facilities for the Ariane 6, a next-generation launch vehicle being developed by the ESA and CNES.