Visitors can take a tour of the site which first began in the 1960s.
The huge site is still in good condition (Image: AFP)
An abandoned space station has been left frozen in time after its Russian teams were forced to leave the site in haste. The European Space Agency logo can still be seen on a former rocket launch complex site at Kourou in French Guiana on February 13, 2026. Between 2011 and 2022, Russia launched Soyuz rockets from Kourou, in French Guiana, taking advantage of its proximity to the equator, which was more favorable than Baikonur for certain missions.
It was abandoned overnight after Russia's aggression against Ukraine in response to European sanctions. Images of the site show it is almost completely empty and its historic items are left exactly as they were. According to the European Space Agency, it cost €2 billion (£1.75bn) to build.
The opening of a former rocket launch complex site (Image: AFP)
Director of The Guiana Space Centre (CSG) Philippe Lier (Image: AFP)
It was only in 2024 that this launch complex was assigned to the French start-up MaiaSpace, which is developing the first reusable European launcher, whose maiden flight, delayed, is scheduled for the end of 2022.
According to reports, the Guiana Space Center enjoys a strategic geographical location near the equator in French Guiana.
Arianespace says: “This location makes it possible to exploit the slingshot effect of the Earth’s rotation, optimizing the efficiency of launches to carry heavier payloads with less fuel.
“Its civilian and neutral status is certified by international ITAR and NATO standards, guaranteeing a secure environment that complies with global regulations.”
A truck with a European Space Agency (ESA) logo at the site (Image: AFP)
Workers clear roads on a former rocket launch complex site (Image: AFP)
According to Tripadvisor, more than 500 launches have left from this vital space center, which began in the 1960s.
Today, there are guided tours of the facility and its six launch sites are among the region's most popular attractions.
One person who visited on Tripadvisor penned: “This hidden gem is probably my favourite place on earth. Ironic that this is Europe’s launch site for all its satellites.
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“I got to see a launch when I was there. You can actually get a ticket with a reservation or go to one of the free viewing sites which are well organized.”
Equipment standing at a former rocket launch complex site (Image: AFP)
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