Article Posted on : - Jun 21, 2010

A file photo of the Syouz launch.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russian space agency Roscosmos and European space transportation company Arianespace have signed an agreement under which 10 more Russian-built Soyuz ST rockets will be launched from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.

The agreement was signed by Roscosmos chief Anatoly Perminov and Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall in St. Petersburg, Russia on Saturday.

The additional launch vehicles and all related service support will be provided to the French company till 2016, Roscosmos said.

Some of the Soyuz rockets will be launched to deploy European navigation system Galileo, the space agency said.

With this deal, Arianespace would now launch a total of 24 Soyuz spacecraft from the French Guiana spaceport.

A new spaceport is being constructed in French Guiana to launch the Soyuz rockets. Preparations are going on in full swing to launch the first Soyuz ST rocket which is scheduled to lift off in December this year.