# Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre

> European Space Agency program

**Wikidata**: [Q4430522](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4430522)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_at_the_Guiana_Space_Centre)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-at-the-guiana-space-centre

## Summary
Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre is a European Space Agency (ESA) program that utilizes the Russian-made Soyuz launch vehicle to carry payloads into outer space. Operating from the Guiana Space Centre, the program is also known by the alias Soyuz ST-B. The program represents a collaboration using a Russian rocket, manufactured by the Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center, from a European spaceport.

## Key Facts
- **Program Type:** European Space Agency program
- **Classification:** Launch vehicle
- **Country of Origin:** Russia
- **Manufacturer:** Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center
- **Alias:** Soyuz ST-B
- **Launch Site Coordinates:** 5.169° N, -52.69° W

## FAQs
### Q: What is Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre?
A: It is a program by the European Space Agency (ESA) that uses the Russian Soyuz rocket as a launch vehicle. These launches take place from the ESA's spaceport, the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.

### Q: Who makes the Soyuz rocket used in this program?
A: The Soyuz launch vehicle is manufactured in Russia by the Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center.

### Q: Is the Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre a European rocket?
A: No, the program is run by the European Space Agency, but the rocket itself is of Russian origin. The program facilitates the launch of this Russian vehicle from Europe's spaceport.

## Why It Matters
The Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre program is significant because it represents a major international collaboration in the space launch industry. It combines the proven reliability and medium-lift capability of the Russian Soyuz rocket with the strategic advantages of the European Space Agency's Guiana Space Centre. The spaceport's location near the equator is highly efficient for launching satellites into various orbits.

This partnership provided the ESA with a versatile launch option, filling a gap between its heavy-lift Ariane and light-lift Vega rockets. By launching a Russian vehicle from its own territory, the ESA expanded its launch service capabilities and fostered cooperation with the Russian space industry. The program demonstrates how different national space programs can leverage each other's strengths for mutual benefit, enhancing access to space for a wider range of missions.

## Notable For
- **International Partnership:** The program is a notable collaboration between the European Space Agency and Russia's space industry, launching a Russian-made rocket from a European-operated spaceport.
- **Equatorial Soyuz Launches:** It is unique for operating the Russian Soyuz, a vehicle traditionally launched from northern latitude sites like Baikonur and Plesetsk, from an equatorial launch site.
- **Specific Vehicle Designation:** The program is associated with the specific alias Soyuz ST-B for the version of the rocket used.

## Body
### Program Overview
Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre is a program managed by the European Space Agency (ESA). Its primary function is to provide launch services using the Soyuz rocket, expanding the range of payload options available from Europe's spaceport.

### Launch Vehicle Details
- **Instance Of:** Launch Vehicle
- **Country of Origin:** Russia
- **Manufacturer:** Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center
- **Alias:** Soyuz ST-B

### Operational Details
- **Launch Site:** Guiana Space Centre
- **Location Coordinates:**
    - Latitude: 5.169
    - Longitude: -52.69