euesa1-4, Exercise 1: Why launchers, why Kourou

Model answer:

Why Europe wanted its own launcher (any two): the owner of a rocket decides when, whether and on what terms others can launch; a story often told is that the US agreed to launch a joint European communications satellite only if it was not used commercially (check the terms); independent access to space became a stated European policy; and a launcher allowed Europe to sell launches commercially.

Why Kourou (any two): it is near the equator, so an eastward launch gains speed from the Earth's spin; there is open sea to the east, so spent stages fall into the Atlantic; and it is French territory, giving a stable base inside Europe.