Posted: Mon, Nov 10, 2003, 1:59 PM ET (1859 GMT)
French and Russian officials signed an agreement Friday to allow the launch of Russian-built Soyuz rockets from the French launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. The agreement, announced months ago but not officially completed until Friday, was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Boris Alyoshin and Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin during a visit by Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, to Paris. The agreement allows the use of Soyuz rockets from Kourou starting in 2006. Europe will spend over $300 million to build a Soyuz launch pad there, with the French government paying half the costs and other ESA member states paying the other half. The Soyuz is expected to handle smaller payloads that had previously been carried by the Ariane 4 booster, which was retired earlier this year.

Related Links:

•  AFP article
•  Interfax article
•  RIA Novosti article