On 19 January 2005, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Roscosmos agreed to launch Soyuz ST rockets from the Guiana Space Centre. The equatorial launch site allows the Soyuz to deliver 2.7 to 4.9 tonnes into Sun-synchronous orbit, depending on the third-stage engine used. Construction of a new pad started in 2005 and was completed in April 2011. The pad used vertical loading common at French Guiana, unlike the horizontal loading used at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. A simulated launch was conducted in early May 2011. The first operational launch happened on 21 October 2011, bearing the first two satellites in Galileo global positioning system.
On 19 January 2005 the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Roscosmos agreed to launch Soyuz ST rockets from the Guiana Space Centre The equatorial launch site allows the Soyuz to deliver 27 to 49 tonnes into Sun-synchronous orbit depending on the third-stage engine used Construction of a new pad started in 2005 and was completed in April 2011 The pad used vertical loading common at French Guiana unlike the horizontal loading used at the Baikonur Cosmodrome A simulated launch was conducted in early May 2011 The first operational launch happened on 21 October 2011 bearing the first two satellites in Galileo global positioning system