ESA Carries Out First Soyuz Launch Simulation

The first simulation of a Soyuz rocket launch has finally been completed at the Kourou Spaceport, which the European Space Agency (ESA) operates in the French Guyana, South America. The first actual Soyuz launch is scheduled to take place later this year.

ESA has constructed an entire launch pad and assembling facility for the Soyuz rockets, under a contract it signed a few years back with the Russian Federal Space Agency (RosCosmos).

The agreement indicates that ESA will receive technical assistance in constructing the dedicated launch pad, in testing its operations, and in launching the Russian-built rockets and capsules. The launch facility itself was only recently completed.

The simulated launch campaign that the space agency conducted last Friday, April 29, featured the exact procedures that will be used during the actual launch. Testing to see that auxiliary facilities are ready for the mission is equally as important as ensuring the spacecraft itself is.

In addition to fueling the rocket, all other procedures in the launch pattern were simulated during the tests. The new facilities passed all assessments with flying colors. At this point, the Kourou Spaceport only has two Soyuz rockets, and one of them was used for the simulations.

At first, it was rolled out of the assembly building horizontally, and taken by train over a 600-meter-long track to the launch site. Using four support arms, the rocket was then lifted into position, and had its upper stage and payload fairing installed via a mobile gantry.

According to officials at ESA, the tests covered the five-day period that will precede the final phases of every Soyuz launch, culminating with the actual take-off. The tests will continue today, May 5, when ESA will simulate a lift-off, and a mission to track the rocket downrange.

The ESA-RosCosmos collaboration agreement calls for Russia to sell several Soyuz rockets to Europe. The launches will be operated and managed by Arianespace, one of the first commercial spaceflight companies in the world, and the constructor of the successful Ariane 5 heavy-lift delivery systems.

In a ceremony that took place Thursday, March 31, ESA officials handed over the newly-completed launch pad to Arianespace, which will be in charge of operations here from now on. Preparations will soon begin at the facility, in anticipation of a launch scheduled for later this year.

While initial excavation and ground infrastructure work began at Kourou in 2005 and 2006, respectively, it wasn't until February 2007 that the construction of the actual launch pad started.

By mid-2008, Russian engineering teams were already on site, installing a mobile gantry, test benches, fueling systems, and the launch table. In late 2009, the first two Soyuz rockets made their way to South America, for integration and preparation.

Over the past few months, European and Russian partners, in collaboration with CNES (the French space agency) worked towards certifying the launch site, called Ensemble de Lancement Soyuz (ELS).