MOSCOW, APRIL 2. /RIA NOVOSTI / -- The first blast-off of the Russian carrier rocket Soyuz from the Kourou space centre in French Guiana is slated for December 1, 2006, head of the European Space Agency Jean Jacque Dordain said at the international symposium on the 15th anniversary of Russian-European cooperation in manned space research.
This launch is a milestone in relations between the ESA and the Russian Federal Space Agency, Dordain said.
He also said that financing has been allocated for the Soyuz in Kourou project. Orders have already been placed at Russian and European works and in June-July construction of the launch complex for the Soyuz will begin, he said.
