ESA chose to bring Soyuz rockets to the French Guiana facility because it’s close to the equator. Rockets launched from the equator get an additional speed boost from the Earth’s rotation, and so they can carry heavier loads into orbit.
To help tie the facility back to Soyuz’s origins, an original stone from the launch pad where Yuri Gagarin became the first human into space was brought over from Kazakhstan keep at the new facility.
Original Source: ESA News Release
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