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Russia set to launch three Soyuz carrier rockets from Kourou spaceport in 2022

The first of them is expected on January 6

MOSCOW, October 21. /TASS/. Three Soyuz-ST carrier rockets are scheduled for their launch from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana next year, CEO of the Center for the Operation of Ground-Based Space Infrastructure (part of Russia’s federal space agency Roscosmos) Ruslan Mukhamedzhanov told TASS on Thursday.

"Three launches are planned in 2022, with the first of them expected on January 6," the chief executive said.

One launch is expected this year when a Soyuz-ST carrier rocket will orbit Galileo European navigation satellites, he added. "The launch is scheduled for November 30, 2021 (December 1, Moscow time)."

October 21 marks ten years since the first launch of a Soyuz-ST rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. In 2011, a Russian rocket with a Fregat booster orbited two Galileo European navigation satellites. Up to four Russian rockets have been launched annually from the Kourou space center since then.

Contracts for another two Soyuz rocket launches from Kourou spaceport signed for 2023

Russia has signed contracts for two launches of Soyuz-ST carrier rockets from the Kourou spaceport in 2023, the head of Russia’s Center for the Operation of Ground-Based Space Infrastructure said.

"Contracts for another two launches have been signed for 2023," Mukhamedzhanov said, replying to a corresponding question.

Work is underway under new contracts for the delivery of payloads by Soyuz-ST carrier rockets from the Kourou spaceport into orbit, he said.

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