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Space

European Space Agency prepares Soyuz for dry roll-out

RIA Novosti

14:29 28/04/2011 MOSCOW, April 28 (RIA Novosti) - The first Russian Soyuz ST rocket built for launch from the European Space Agency's site at Kourou in French Guyana will be rolled out to the launch pad for dry systems tests on April 29, the Russian Space Agency said on Thursday.

The rocket, including a Fregat SB upper stage produced by Russia's NPO Lavochkin, is due to be launched from Kourou for the first time on August 31. The rocket will put two satellites into space for the European Gallileo navigation system.

Due to its location near the equator, the Kourou launch site will give the Soyuz greater thrust to put larger payloads into orbit than the traditional Russian sites at Baikonur in Kazakhstan and Plesetsk in north Russia.



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