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Soyuz-ST was successfully launched from French Guiana

19 december 2013

On December 19, 2013 at 13h 12min (Moscow time) European GAIA space telescope was successfully launched by Soyuz-ST launch vehicle developed and produced at SRPSRC TsSKB-Progress from Guiana Space Centre.

That was the second launch of the Soyuz-ST launch vehicle from Kourou cosmodrome in 2013 and the sixth launch within the ‘Soyuz at Guiana Space Centre’ Project.

The GAIA space telescope designed to order of European Space Agency is intended for precise measurement of stellar motion and position, as well as for detailed 3D mapping of our galaxy.

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Soyuz-ST is adapted to the requirements of the Guiana Space Center as regards safety (telecomand uplink for launch abort), TM-system (S-band transmitters with European telemetry frame structure) and environmental conditions (higher humidity, marine transportation, etc).

Under the ‘Soyuz at GSC’ Project TsSKB-Progress is responsible for the launcher and general management of the Russian enterprises participating in the mission.