Home > Europe's Spaceport > The different Space players at the CSG > ESA

ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA), founded on 31 March 1975, is the European Space organization with 17 member states.

Germany,
Austria,
Belgium,
Denmark,
Spain,
Finland,
France,
Ireland,
Italy,
Norway,
The Netherlands,
The United-Kingdom,
Sweden,
Switzerland,
Portugal.
Greece,
Luxembourg.

Canada participates in some programmes in terms of a cooperation agreement.

ESA is in charge of Ariane programmes and finances the building of specific Ariane facilities (in particular ELA, EPCU, propellant plants and test benches) and is also the major financial contributor for covering operating and investment costs for the CNES/CSG establishment.

In this respect, ESA is owner of :

the Ariane Launch Complexes,
the Ariane 5 production facilities,
the Satellite Preparation Complex (EPCU),
technical installations on the downrange station sites.

These facilities were built within the perimeter of the Guiana Space Centre and made available on completion respectively to Arianespace, Regulus, Europropulsion, EADS-ST, Air Liquide Spatial Guyane and the CNES/CSG; these bodies exploit them during the launcher’s operational life.

In terms of the agreement between ESA and the French government, ESA gets support from CNES/CSG for Ariane launches during qualification phases. It hands over all commercial rights to the launcher to Arianespace when the commercial operational phase begins.

In accordance with this agreement, ESA helps finance facilities and equipment at CNES/CSG under the terms of a multi-annual contract.
ESA has no executive responsibility at the Guiana Space Centre.