News Archive / Tagged: French Guiana

• Ariane 5 deploys 2 communications satellites

  Lloyd CampbellFebruary 5th, 2019

  In the first of a dozen or so missions for Arianespace in 2019, an Ariane 5 rocket sent two communication satellites into a geostationary transfer orbit.

• Vega-C rocket solid rocket motor tested in French Guiana

  Jason RhianJanuary 29th, 2019

  The vast jungles of French Guiana echoed with the sounds of a different type of thunder other than the natural kind on Monday Jan. 28. An artificial roar was generated by a solid rocket motor that is planned for use on the Vega-C rocket Arianespace is developing to launch upcoming missions.

• Soyuz ST-B launches from French Guiana with Europe’s Metop-C weather satellite

  Tomasz NowakowskiNovember 6th, 2018

  Arianespace made use of a Russian-built Soyuz ST-B rocket to launch the Metop-C spacecraft into a polar orbit for EUMETSAT.

• ESA launches 10th Vega rocket

  Christopher PaulAugust 2nd, 2017

  A Vega rocket delivered two satellites to orbit at 9:58 p.m. EDT on Aug. 1 (01:58 GMT Aug. 2), 2017, from the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Vega launch complex in Kourou, French Guiana. This was the 10th flight of the small, solid-fueled launch vehicle, which included improvements in its payload fairing and launch pad design.

• Arianespace delivers all-electric SES-15 to GTO on Flight VS17

  Curt GodwinMay 18th, 2017

  French multinational launch provider Arianespace continues to successfully clear its mission backlog induced by the "social movement" in French Guiana earlier in 2017. The company's Europeanized Soyuz ST-A medium-class rocket took to the skies with the SES-15 communications satellite at 7:54 a.m. EDT (11:54 GMT) May 18, 2017, from the Guiana Space Center in South America.

• Arianespace sets May 4 for Ariane 5 launch

  Derek RichardsonApril 27th, 2017

  After a resolution to the month-long protests that halted launches at the South American spaceport in French Guiana, Arianespace announced new dates for its next three flights to space.

• Vive la resolution!: French Guiana protests end, spaceport operations resume

  Curt GodwinApril 24th, 2017

  More than a month into a "social movement" that halted Arianespace launches, an agreement between French politicians and Guianan MPs has cleared the way for the France-based multinational launch provider to resume flights from the South American spaceport.

• Photo Gallery: Ariane 5 launches Star One D1 and JCSAT-15 satellites

  Derek RichardsonDecember 22nd, 2016

  KOUROU, French Guiana — Riding a column of flame, Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket launched toward orbit carrying the Star One D1 and JCSAT-15 communications satellites. SpaceFlight Insider was there to photograph the event.

• ESA’s Sentinel 2B spacecraft steps into the spotlight

  Jacques van OeneNovember 17th, 2016

  NOORDWIJK, the Netherlands — The European Space Agency is preparing to launch the Sentinel 2B spacecraft atop a Vega rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. The mission was highlighted during a tour conducted in the Netherlands – and SpaceFlight Insider was there.

• Soyuz soars into space with two Galileo navigation satellites

  Tomasz NowakowskiMay 24th, 2016

  Arianespace has successfully launched a Soyuz ST-B rocket into orbit carrying two navigation satellites for Europe’s Galileo network. Liftoff occurred, as planned, at 4:48 a.m. EDT (8:48 GMT) from the Soyuz Launch Complex (ELS) in Sinnamary, French Guiana.

• Soyuz ST-B to launch Galileo satellite duo on Tuesday

  Tomasz NowakowskiMay 22nd, 2016

  A Soyuz ST-B rocket will take to the skies Tuesday, May 24, to orbit a duo of European Galileo navigation satellites. The spacecraft, designated Galileo 13 and 14, are slated to be lifted off at 4:48 a.m. EDT (08:48 GMT) from the Soyuz Launch Complex (ELS) in Sinnamary, French Guiana.

• Soyuz ST-A soars into sky with cluster of European satellites

  Tomasz NowakowskiApril 25th, 2016

  A Soyuz ST-A took to the skies on April 25. It was tasked with orbiting several satellites designed for Earth observation and other research. The rocket lifted off at 6:02 p.m. GFT (5:02 p.m. EDT / 21:02 GMT) from Guiana Space Centre's Soyuz Launch Complex (ELS) in Sinnamary, French Guiana.

• Technical issue delays Sentinel-1B mission

  Derek RichardsonApril 24th, 2016

  KOUROU, French Guiana — After two delays due to unacceptable weather conditions, the third launch attempt of the Soyuz STA carrying the Sentinel-1B mission was called off about 45 minutes prior to liftoff due to a technical issue on the booster.

• Weather delays Sentinel-1B mission again

  Jason RhianApril 23rd, 2016

  KOUROU, French Guiana — Weather conditions dipped into the red again in the jungles of Kourou, French Guiana, causing another slip of the Sentinel-1B mission. Liftoff had been slated for 6:02:13 GFT (5:02:13 p.m. EDT). This has now been pushed back an additional 24 hours due, yet again, to the weather.

• Weather causes 24-hour delay for Soyuz-STA flight of Sentinel-1B

  Jason RhianApril 22nd, 2016

  KOUROU, French Guiana — Prior to the fueling of the Arianespace Soyuz-STA rocket, the technical review determined that the weather conditions at the launch site in Sinnamary, French Guiana, were not optimal and the launch has been delayed 24 hours.