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The termination of the joint Russian-French space project at the Guiana Space Centre، coupled with ongoing challenges in Russia's space industry، has created a significant historical opportunity for Kazakhstan. This development could elevate the role of the Baikonur Cosmodrome and position Kazakhstan's "Baiterek" project as a key player on the global stage.

The Genesis of the Kourou Soyuz Project

Launched in 2011، the Russian-French collaboration established a comprehensive ecosystem and a unique launch complex for the modern "Soyuz-ST" rocket at the Guiana Space Centre in South America. The construction was remarkably swift، completed in just four years. This rapid progress was fueled by substantial financial backing from Russia and unhindered access to Western technologies. Hundreds of specialists were involved، and Russia aligned its regulations with European standards. Roscosmos itself lauded the facility as superior to Baikonur، highlighting its reliability and advanced nature.

Reasons for Project Stoppage

However، this partnership was abruptly halted in 2022. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent imposition of sanctions، the European partners initiated the termination of the project. Russian media reported that the era of "Soyuz" launches from Kourou had ended، with a French startup taking over. In April 2026، the launch complex for the "Soyuz" rockets was demolished via a controlled explosion. Only the section of the infrastructure specifically designed for Russian rocket launches was destroyed؛ the remaining parts were transferred to the French startup MaiaSpace.

MaiaSpace and the Baiterek Project

MaiaSpace is now working to reconfigure the "Soyuz-ST" launch complex to accommodate the launch of its own reusable rockets. This endeavor aims to ensure the project's economic viability and minimize its environmental impact. The maiden launch of the Maia rocket is scheduled for 2027. Unlike the single-use "Soyuz" rockets، the Maia rocket will utilize environmentally friendly fuel and is designed for multiple uses.

Kazakhstan's Emerging Prospects

The dismantling of the Russian-French infrastructure in Kourou has significantly boosted the importance of Kazakhstan's "Baiterek" project. Russia now has limited options for launching its "Soyuz" rockets، with Baikonur becoming its primary launch site. The "Baiterek" project، currently under construction at Baikonur، is poised to assume a central role. The recent successful test launch of the "Soyuz-5" rocket further demonstrated the potential of this new generation of launch vehicles. Nevertheless، experts caution that single-use rockets may struggle to compete on price with their reusable counterparts.

This development was reported by Infohub.kz.