Following European Union sanctions against Moscow after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia is suspending launches from the Kourou cosmodrome in French Guiana, the Russian space agency Roscosmos announced on Saturday.
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In reaction to EU sanctions against our companies, Roscosmos suspends its cooperation with European partners in the organization of space launches from the Kourou cosmodrome and recalls its technical staff (...) from French Guiana
“, she said in a press release.
Roscosmos is also recalling to Russia its technical staff - 87 people in total - who are currently in French Guiana, according to the same source.
Cessation of exports from the aeronautics and space industry
The European Council decided on Thursday evening to ban the export to Russia of aircraft, parts and equipment from the aeronautical and space industry, in reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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The European aerospace sector has several partnerships with Russia.
Roscosmos thus has a joint venture with Arianespace, Starsem, to operate the Soyuz rocket.
In principle, it should launch eight Soyuz rockets in 2022, three from Kourou (including the French spy satellite CSO-3) and five from the Russian Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
In the absence of Soyuz rockets, Europe would not have its own capacity to launch certain satellites before the implementation of Ariane 6, whose first flight is expected at the end of the year.