MT Aerospace Signs CNES Contract For Soyuz Ground Facilities In Kourou

LAUNCH PAD

Illustration of the adapted Soyuz being launched from French Guiana. Credits: ESA.

Bremen, Germany (SPX) Dec 14, 2005
As a strategic partner in a European consortium, MT Aerospace, of Augsburg/Mainz, a subsidiary of OHB Technology, has received an order from the French Space Agency CNES for the engineering, production and assembly of parts of the ground facilities for the Soyuz launcher in Kourou, French Guyana.

The contract, with a value of 9.5 M€, includes the delivery of the steel structures, cladding, large mechanical doors and cranes for the ground facilities' spacecraft integration and adjoining buildings. The total contract value from CNES awarded to the partipating European companies exceeds 300 M€.

The signatures of CNES and the consortium "Infrastructure Soyouz" representatives on this contract mark the beginning of a three year project that will enable all requirements for successful Soyuz launches from Kourou. End of 2008 the first historic start of a Soyuz launcher outside of Baikonur and Plesetsk will take place.

The decision in favour of a concerted development and construction of the infrastructure was made in the strategic interests of both Russia and Europe. This augmentation further enriches the existing market potential and flexibility of the ESA rocket palette.

This order continues MT Aerospace's successful collaboration with the ESA, CNES and Arianespace in the field of ground facilities for the Ariane launcher, and marks a continuation of over 30 years of successful coorperation. The contract confirms MT Aerospace's position as an important player in the construction, operation and maintenance of the European spaceport facilities in Kourou.

LAUNCH PAD

Arianespace Ready To Add Soyuz To It's Launch Fleet

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 08, 2005
Plans for the first launch of an evolved Soyuz from French Guiana in 2008 are moving ahead smoothly, laying a key cornerstone in Arianespace's new total launch solutions strategy to win an even greater share of the market.