Astronomy and Space

Guiana Space Centre

The Guiana Space Centre (French: Centre spatial guyanais; CSG), also called Europe's Spaceport, is a spaceport to the northwest of Kourou in French Guiana, an overseas region of France in South America. Kourou is located approximately 500 kilometres (310 mi; 270 nmi) north of the equator at a latitude of 5°. In operation since 1968, it is a suitable location for a spaceport because of its near equatorial location and open sea to the east and north. At CSG, space launches are conducted by several European private companies and government agencies working together. The CSG land itself is managed by CNES, the French national space agency. The launch infrastructure built on the CSG land is owned by the European Space Agency (ESA). Private companies design and produce the rockets, and operate the launches including planning missions, handling customer relationships and overseeing the team at CSG that integrates and prepares vehicles for launch. As of 2026, two rockets are launched from CSG: Vega C, a medium-lift launch vehicle and Ariane 6, a medium to heavy-lift launch vehicle.

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See also

• ▸37 Comae Berenices
• ▸Oysters (painting)
• ▸Earth observation satellite

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