At the end of December, the Russian Soyuz-ST-A rocket will deliver a military satellite CSO-2 into orbit from the Kourou cosmodrome in French Guiana in the interests of France, a NATO member. This is reported by RIA Novosti, citing a source in the rocket and space industry.
According to the interlocutor of the agency, the launch of a rocket with an optical-electronic reconnaissance spacecraft is scheduled for December 28.
Initially, the launch of the launch vehicle with a military satellite was scheduled for April, but was postponed due to problems with the Fregat-MT upper stage and the closure of the Kuru cosmodrome due to the coronavirus.
In June 2018, the agency, citing a source in the European space industry, reported that by 2023 Europe will allow the abandonment of commercial launches of the Russian Soyuz-ST carrier rocket from the Kuru equatorial cosmodrome in favor of its own Ariane 6 rocket in the version with two side accelerators.
