Russia: Launches from French Guiana space base suspended

Russia has suspended launches from the Kouros spacecraft in French Guiana in response to European Union sanctions against Moscow following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian space agency Roscosmos announced today.

“In response to EU sanctions on our companies, Roscosmos is suspending its cooperation with European partners in the organization of space launches from the Kouros spaceport and is recalling its technical staff (…) from French Guiana,” the statement said. announcement of the Russian space agency.

The European Council decided yesterday, Thursday night, to ban the export to Russia of aircraft, parts and equipment of aerospace and space industry in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The European aeronautics and space sector has many partnerships with Russia.

Roscosmos also has a joint venture with Arianespace, Starsem, to operate the Soyuz space rocket. It is expected to launch eight Soyuz rockets in 2022, three from Kourou and five from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Without the Soyuz rockets, Europe would not have the capacity to launch some satellites before Ariane 6, whose first flight is expected later this year.

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ

Source: Capital

You may also like