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Soyuz-ST Successful Launch from French Guiana

25 june 2013

TsSKB-Progress designed and manufactured Soyuz-ST launcher carrying four O3b communications satellites of O3b Networks was successfully launched from SOYUZ Launching Facility in Kourou Spaceport (French Guiana) on June 25, 2013 at 23:27 Moscow time.

This is the first launch of Soyuz-ST from Kourou Spaceport in 2013 and the fifth within SOYUZ in GSC project.

The next launch of Samara-made vehicle from Kourou is planned for September 2013.

For reference:

Soyuz-ST launch vehicle is adapted to the Guiana Space Centre requirements of safety (launch abort telecommands reception from Earth), telemetry system (European telemetry frame structure UHV transmitters) and operating conditions (high humidity, sea transportation, etc.)

TsSKB-Progress plays a key role in the SOYUZ in GSC project. The enterprise is responsible for the launch vehicle and general technical management of the Russian industrial enterprises participating in the mission.

SOYUZ in GSC project foresees launching of minimum 50 Soyuz-ST vehicles from Guiana Space Centre within 15 years. This makes it possible to substantially increase competitive capacity of European and Russian launchers owing to forming of mutually complementary series of the launch vehicles, such as French Ariane-5, Vega and Russian Soyuz-ST.