Round table on the modernisation of Europe’s spaceport

During the 2023 International Aeronautics and Space Exhibition (SIAE), a round table was held at the CNES/ESA Space Pavilion on the modernisation of Europe’s spaceport. Faced with the emergence of new needs concerning the launch site, three related complementary projects were discussed:

CSG-NG (New Generation) project

The CSG-NG project began in 2019 and will run until 2025, with a budget of €140 million.

Its scope includes improving "launcher tracking" by increasing ground resources, in particular a new radar station – AMAZONIE 2, a new Operations Centre (CDO), new environmentally friendly energy production facilities such as the use of solar power, improvements to drinking water infrastructures and also to the water used in the event of fire, digitalisation of the launch site, and improvements to the "clean rooms" to accommodate the satellites.
 

"Flexible Digital & Sustainable/Carbon Neutral" project

Still under the authority of CNES, this project started in 2022 and will run until 2027, with a budget of €104 million.

It aims to reduce the carbon footprint, cut down energy consumption, roll out green operations, improve agility and offer new services for all types of satellites, from geostationary to Cubesat, while achieving a far-reaching digital transformation. The FDS project is currently considered a European activity.
 

Multi-launcher facilities development project

The historic Diamant site has been chosen to accommodate the family of multi-launchers in order to:

- support new European stakeholders developing private launch systems;

- increase the capacity of the Space Centre for the benefit of the various stakeholders;

- encourage the market for new satellites and provide an ideal geographical location for all types of missions;

- provide a launch site that is compatible with sustainable development and the timetable requirements of the space industry market.

Its concept is based on common resources maintained and operated by the spaceport's expertise and specific resources maintained and operated by each launch operator, which means that several launch operators are present on the same site.

To date, three companies have signed a Binding Term Sheet (BTS): ISAR Aerospace (June 2022), RFA (March 2023) and PLD Space (June 2023). Maiaspace, AVIO, Latitude and HyImpulse have also been selected to sign a BTS.