Where is the Guiana Space Centre?

The Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais) is Europe's spaceport, near Kourou in French Guiana on the north-east coast of South America. It has been operational since 1968.

Who operates the Guiana Space Centre?

France's space agency CNES runs the site, the European Space Agency (ESA) owns the launch infrastructure, and Arianespace operates the launch services.

Which rockets launch from Kourou?

Current launches fly Ariane 6 from the ELA-4 complex and the lighter Vega-C from its dedicated pad. The James Webb Space Telescope launched from here on an Ariane 5 in 2021.

Launches from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Name: Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Address: GF

Upcoming and past rocket launches from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana — live countdowns, mission details, and launch history.

Upcoming Launches

TBD

Amazon Leo (LE-03)

Jun 30, 2026, 12:00 AM

Arianespace

Ariane 64 Block 2

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

LEO

TBD

MTG-I2

Aug 31, 2026, 12:00 AM

Arianespace

Ariane 62

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

GTO

TBD

Sentinel-3C & FLEX

Sep 1, 2026, 12:00 AM

Avio S.p.A

Vega-C

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

TBD

Metop-SG B1

Oct 6, 2026, 12:00 AM

Arianespace

Ariane 62

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

TBD

KOMPSAT-6 & PLATiNO 1

Nov 30, 2026, 12:00 AM

Avio S.p.A

Vega-C

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

TBD

Amazon Leo (LE-04)

Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM

Arianespace

Ariane 64 Block 2

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

LEO

TBD

IRIDE 1

Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM

Avio S.p.A

Vega-C

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

TBD

Maiden Flight

Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM

Latitude

Zéphyr

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

LEO

TBD

IRIDE 2

Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM

Avio S.p.A

Vega-C

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

TBD

Maiden Flight

Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM

PLD Space

Miura 5

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

TBD

Ariane 64 | GO-1

Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM

Arianespace

Ariane 64 Block 2

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

TBD

Galileo L15 (FOC FM28 & FM31)

Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM

Arianespace

Ariane 62

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

MEO

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Previous Launches

Success

Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)

May 19, 2026, 3:52 AM

Avio S.p.A

Vega-C

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Elliptical

Success

Amazon Leo (LE-02)

Apr 30, 2026, 8:57 AM

Arianespace

Ariane 64 Block 2

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

LEO

Success

Amazon Leo (LE-01)

Feb 12, 2026, 4:45 PM

Arianespace

Ariane 64 Block 2

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

LEO

Success

Galileo L14 (FOC FM33 & FM34)

Dec 17, 2025, 5:01 AM

Arianespace

Ariane 62

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

MEO

Success

KOMPSAT-7

Dec 1, 2025, 5:21 PM

Arianespace

Vega-C

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

Success

Sentinel-1D

Nov 4, 2025, 9:02 PM

Arianespace

Ariane 62

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

Success

Metop-SG A1

Aug 13, 2025, 12:37 AM

Arianespace

Ariane 62

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

Success

CO3D & MicroCarb

Jul 26, 2025, 2:03 AM

Arianespace

Vega-C

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

Success

Biomass

Apr 29, 2025, 9:15 AM

Arianespace

Vega-C

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

Success

CSO-3

Mar 6, 2025, 4:24 PM

Arianespace

Ariane 62

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

Success

Sentinel-1C

Dec 5, 2024, 9:20 PM

Arianespace

Vega-C

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

Success

Sentinel-2C

Sep 5, 2024, 1:50 AM

Arianespace

Vega

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

SSO

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About Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

The Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais) near Kourou in French Guiana is Europe's spaceport, operational since 1968. France's space agency CNES runs the site, ESA owns the launch infrastructure, and Arianespace operates the launch services.

Sitting just 5° north of the equator, it gives rockets a strong eastward boost from Earth's rotation and a clear path out over the Atlantic — a major advantage for the geostationary orbits many large satellites need. Current launches fly Ariane 6 from the ELA-4 complex and Vega-C from its dedicated pad.

View larger map

Facts

Timezone: America/Cayenne
Total launches: 333
Total landings: 0
Coordinates: 5.1690, -52.6903
Operator: CNES (site) · ESA (infrastructure) · Arianespace (launches)
Active since: 1968
Latitude advantage
Active pads: ELA-4 (Ariane 6), Vega-C pad

Launch pads

Where to watch

CNES organises free public viewing on launch days from dedicated observation sites around the centre, with access arranged for each flight; casual views are also possible from the Kourou seafront.

Carapa observation site
An official CSG public viewing area, the closest of the organised sites to the launch zones.
Toucan & Agami observation sites
Further official viewing points used when safety distances require more separation from the pads.
Kourou seafront
Informal views from the town's beaches and waterfront, north-east of the launch installations.

Notable launches

Ariane 1 first flight
24 Dec 1979
Ariane 1 · ESA
The maiden Ariane launch (carrying the CAT-1 capsule), beginning Europe's independent access to space.
View launch details
James Webb Space Telescope
25 Dec 2021
Ariane 5 ECA+ · ASA
Launched on an Ariane 5 toward its orbit at L2 — the most powerful space telescope ever flown.
View launch details
Ariane 6 first flight
9 Jul 2024
Ariane 62 · ESA
The inaugural flight of Europe's new heavy-lift rocket from the ELA-4 complex.
View launch details