Updates Soyuz-ST launch complex in Kourou

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Arianespace: The Spaceport's second Soyuz launcher completes its integration and checkout (Dec. 9, 2010).

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The Block I third stage is mated with the no. 2 Soyuz at the Spaceport. This activity occurred inside the new Launcher Integration Building created for the medium-lift vehicle’s operations from French Guiana.​

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RIA Novosti: Maiden flight of Russia's Soyuz-ST carrier rocket set for Aug. 31:

The first flight of Russia's Soyuz-ST-B carrier rocket from the European space center in French Guiana has been scheduled for August 31, 2011, the Progress design bureau said on Wednesday.

"The new schedule of work under the program of Soyuz launches from Guiana envisages the first launch of the Soyuz-ST-B carrier rocket on August 31, 2011," the design bureau's press service said.

The rocket will carry two Galileo navigation satellites that are the equivalent of the U.S.'s Global Positioning System (GPS) and Russia's Glonass.

The Soyuz-ST was originally scheduled to blast off with the French Hylas satellite on board from the European Space Agency's Kourou Space Center on December 17, 2010, but the launch was called off. The French operator said it was because it had become clear the Russian rocket would not be ready to fly by the end of the year.

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[Notebook]

Soyuz launch site ready for first flight

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMUE17UPLG_index_0.html

It is Lirpa Loof day, but I think this is safe...

N.

 

[N_Molson]

From ESA site :

What’s next?

From now on Arianespace is responsible for the Soyuz launch site and will begin the campaign this month to qualify its launch operations.

A launch rehearsal will ensure that the Soyuz and the new facilities work together perfectly, while allowing the teams to train under realistic launch conditions.


This simulated launch campaign will include the vehicle’s transfer to the launch zone, its erection into the vertical position, its installation on the pad, and the testing of ground and launcher interfaces.

These final tests will give the green light for the first Soyuz flight from French Guiana in the third quarter of 2011.

 

[Scruce]

This is what the Kourou ELS addon is for is it not?

http://www.orbiterfrancophone.com/index.php?disp=addons&id=90

 

[SiberianTiger]

This Friday (April, 29th) a first test rollout of Soyuz-ST rocket to the launch pad will be done. That's an unofficial information.

 

[Notebook]

Soyuz in launch zone
First Soyuz almost ready for launch from French Guiana

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMYBDZ57NG_index_0.html

4 May 2011
The final countdown before its maiden flight later this year has begun for Soyuz with a simulated launch campaign at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Slide show here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency/sets/72157626638257452/show/

N.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Cool, except it looks... beheaded during the roll-out! :shifty:

 

[Notebook]

Still looks good though! Wonder if it will get much media attention when it goes up?

N.

 

[Notebook]

ESA hands over keys to Soyuz launch site

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM46QISDNG_index_0.html

Are these real keys, what happens if you lose them, is there a spare set, do you have to get in through the kitchen window? Never happened to me, spare set behind the letterbox on a piece of string.

N.

 

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Spaceflight Now: Soyuz wraps up countdown exercise in French Guiana

 

[Scruce]

ESA News: First Soyuz transfer to launch pad at Europe's Spaceport.

A simulated launch campaign took place at Europe's Spaceport, French Guiana, on 29 April-5 May 2011.

This dry run ensured that the Soyuz and the new facilities work together perfectly, while allowing the teams to train under realistic launch conditions. It also validated all the procedures during the final phase before launch, except the fuelling of the vehicle.

The vehicle was transferred from the preparation building to the launch zone and erected into the vertical position. The mobile gantry was then rolled out to the pad and the vehicle's upper composite, comprising the Fregat upper stage and payload fairing, was hoisted on top of the launcher.

The campaign ended with a simulated liftoff and flight downrange.

 

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Spaceflight Now: Soyuz wraps up countdown rehearsal (PHOTO GALLERY)

 

[SiberianTiger]

Do you notice the weeds that had time to grow all across the blast pit? Hope, by the time of actual launch, they won't have to send a man with a chainsaw to put down a tree that would grow in the place the rocket should be at! :lol:

 

[Jarvitä]

Is that a vertical transport system? What happened to on-pad erection?

 

[SiberianTiger]

Is that a vertical transport system? What happened to on-pad erection?

It is in place, but the final integration step, upper composite's attachment is done "European way", on the pad and inside the protective shelter of the mobile tower. This helps to stretch the range of payloads that can be launched on Soyuz: not all satellites like tumbling sideways and being raised back upright.

BTW, the same scheme is likely to be adopted for what's now known as "Rus-M" LV family.

 

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ESA: Galileo’s Soyuz launchers arrive at French Guiana:

21 June 2011

The two Soyuz launchers that will fly the first four satellites of Europe’s Galileo navigation system into orbit have arrived at Kourou harbour in French Guiana, completing a journey that took them halfway round the world.

The first two Galileo In Orbit Validation satellites are set to be launched from Europe’s Spaceport on 20 October, with two more following them into orbit by mid-2012.

The October launch will be the first flight of a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana.

The two Soyuz ST-B launchers and their Fregat-MT upper stages were carried across the Atlantic aboard Arianespace vessel MN Colibri, arriving on 18 June.

The rocket hardware left by train from the Soyuz manufacturing plant in Samara, Russia and the Fregat factory in Moscow to St Petersburg harbour, where it was loaded for shipment, leaving on 3 June for French Guiana.

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Click on images to enlarge​

Soyuz ST-B rockets and Fregat-MT upper stages unloaded from Arianespace vessel MN Colibri, which arrived at Kourou harbour on 18 June and were unloaded on 20 June 2011

Credits: Arianespace​

The two Soyuz ST-B launchers and Fregat-MT upper stages arrived at Kourou harbour on 18 June 2011 are the most powerful Soyuz-Fregat combination available, intended to launch the four Galileo IOV satellites

Credits: Arianespace​

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Roscosmos: Soyuz High-Tech Hardware Arrives at CSG

 

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At the Soyuz launch complex at Guiana Space Center launch campaign for Galileo M2 has begun. The launch is scheduled for October 20, 2011. Galileo M1 will be launched atop Soyuz-ST launch vehicle with Fregat upper stage. Currently there are performed electrical and pneumatic tests of the Fregat upper stage.

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(Source: Roscosmos [in Russian])

 

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Arianespace:
Soyuz' first mission from French Guiana is on schedule for an October 20 liftoff

September 13, 2011 – Soyuz Flight VS01

This An-124 cargo jetliner brought the first of two Galileo satellites to French Guiana for Soyuz’ maiden flight from the Spaceport.​

Preparations for the milestone inaugural Soyuz flight from French Guiana are on track for its scheduled October 20 liftoff, with the launcher’s Fregat upper stage being readied for fueling and one of the mission’s two Galileo navigation satellite payloads now at the Spaceport.

Soyuz will carry a pair of satellites for Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system on the upcoming maiden launch. The first Galileo payload was delivered to French Guiana last week aboard a chartered cargo jetliner.
Arianespace is targeting two Soyuz missions from the Spaceport during 2011, bringing this medium-lift vehicle into operation alongside the company’s existing heavy-lift workhorse Ariane 5 and the lightweight Vega, which is to enter commercial service in 2012.

Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said Arianespace currently has payload bookings for 14 Soyuz missions from French Guiana, to be performed over the next several years at the rate of approximately two-to-four flights annually.

Based on Arianespace’s numbering system adopted for its growing family of launch vehicles, Soyuz missions from the Spaceport will carry a “VS” designation followed by the flight number. The “V” refers to “vol” – the French word for “flight” – while the “S” represents Arianespace’s use of a Soyuz from French Guiana. As a result, the historic October 20 mission is designated: VS01.



Arianespace:
Build-up is underway for the no. 1 Soyuz to be launched from French Guiana

September 16, 2011 – Soyuz Flight VS01

Supported by two jigs, the Soyuz’ Block A core second stage is ready to receive the first of four boosters that constitute the launcher’s first stage. This photo, taken from the rear, highlights the four nozzles of the Block A’s RD-108A engine and its four vernier thrusters that are used for three-axis flight control once the boosters have separated.​

The first Soyuz to be operated from French Guiana has begun the integration process, marking a major step toward Arianespace’s introduction of the workhorse medium-lift vehicle into its launcher family at the Spaceport.

During activity this week, the Soyuz launcher’s central core Block A second stage was fitted with one of four strap-on boosters that constitute the Russian-built launcher’s first stage.

The horizontal integration is taking place inside a purpose-built Launcher Integration Building at the Spaceport, where Soyuz vehicles will undergo their initial build-up. Once assembled, they will be rolled out to the launch pad and erected in the vertical position for installation of the upper composite – consisting of Soyuz’ Fregat upper stage and the satellite payload.

Liftoff of the historic no. 1 Soyuz from French Guiana is set for October 20 with two European Galileo navigation satellites, and will be followed by a second flight of the Russian launcher at the Spaceport in December.

This image, which is looking from the Block A second stage’s upper end, shows the initial first-stage strap-on booster following its integration. The Block A stage’s hammer-head shape enables the four strap-on boosters to be integrated around it.​