The Soyuz launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana, with he service gantry moved away for an imminent launch. ©Arianespace
Sinnamary, Guiana, 16 July 2015 — Arianespace today inaugurated FCube (Fregat Fueling Facility), the new building dedicated to fueling the Fregat upper stage of the Soyuz launch vehicle. Located at the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana and not far from the border with Brazil, this new facility will give Arianespace greater flexibility in managing its launch manifest, while also increasing launch capacity with Ariane, Soyuz and Vega for the greater benefit of all customers.
Achieved just one year back on 10 July 2014, the second Arianespace Soyuz mission for O3b Networks deployed successfully four spacecraft to complete this customer’s basic satellite network. ©Arianespace
The FCube fueling facility, located at the Soyuz launch complex (ELS), is now operational after a design and construction phase lasting more than two years. Most of the construction was handled by local contractors, in a project deploying up to 60 workers and stretching from March 2013 to April 2015. The project fully met its strict quality, budget and schedule requirements.
The FCube facility will help optimize the operation of the three launch systems deployed by Arianespace at the Guiana Space Center – Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega. Each of these systems now has its own propellant loading systems at its launch complex.
Spanning some 1,152 square meters, this new facility will reduce the length of a Soyuz launch campaign by more than a week, thanks to an innovative design that improves the propellant loading process on the Fregat upper stage. Furthermore, the S3B fueling hall, which previously performed this task, is now free to be used to load propellants on satellites, thus increasing Arianespace’s customer handling capacity at the Guiana Space Center. The commissioning of FCube will optimize and speed up the transition between launch campaigns, while also ensuring higher availability of the three launchers in the Arianespace family.
This investment, approved by Arianespace in 2013, is a key to the launch rate ramp-up at the Guiana Space Center.
Arianespace Chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël gave the keynote address at the inauguration ceremony, stating: FCube is a timely addition to support the rise in launch rates spurred by the success of Arianespace’s launcher family. For both Arianespace and Guiana Space Center, this facility will enhance competitiveness, flexibility and robustness, while increasing the company’s capacity and business volumes.
By Leandro Maldonado