Kourou was selected in
1964 to become the spaceport of
France. When the
European Space Agency (ESA) was founded in
1975, France offered to share Kourou with ESA. Commercial launches are bought also by non-European companies. ESA pays two thirds of the spaceports annual budget, and has also financed the upgrades made during the development of the
Ariane launchers.
The ground facilties include launcher and satellite preparation buildings, launch operation facilities and a solid propellant factory.
Kourou is located only 500 km north of the equator, at a latitude of 5 degrees. At this latitude, the Earth's rotation gives an additional velocity of almost 500 m/s. In addition, maneuvering the satellites to the desired orbit is usually simpler when the lauch is made close to the equator.