The French space agency CNES has announced a tender for the development and installation of automated optical tracking systems for the Guiana Space Centre. The initiative, published on 24 September, aims to modernize infrastructure used for monitoring Ariane and Vega launches, as current equipment is becoming obsolete.
The new tracking turrets must be capable of observing launch vehicles at altitudes of up to 100 kilometres. The systems will feature sensors for both visible and infrared spectrums, paired with long-focal-length optics. Tracking will be fully automated and synchronized with real-time trajectory data of the rockets.
CNES plans to procure three units in total. Two turrets will be fixed, with one located on the mainland and another on Île Royale. The third unit will be mobile to allow for flexible positioning. All systems will be managed remotely from a single console at the Image Production Centre in the Jupiter 2 building.
Beyond public broadcasting, the data collected by these turrets is essential for flight-safety teams to conduct technical diagnostics and post-launch investigations. The agency expects to award the contract in the third quarter of 2027, with the project duration estimated at approximately three years.
