Overview

>> What is the difference between CNES, ESA and Arianespace?

·         The Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) was formed in 1961 as a state-owned Commercial/Industrial organisation.  Its mission is to propose a national space programme to the French government in the European context and to put it into practice.  CNES is France ’s National Space Agency.

·         ESA is the European Space Agency.  It is an intergovernmental agency whose mission is to define and implement the European space programme.  The 17 member States of ESA are not all in the EU (e.g. Switzerland ), nor are all the EU States members of ESA (e.g. Hungary ).
The ESA member countries are: Germany , Austria , Belgium , Denmark , Spain , Finland , France , Greece , Ireland , Italy , Luxembourg , Norway , the Netherlands , Portugal , the United Kingdom , Sweden and Switzerland .

·         Arianespace is a commercial company, formed in 1980.  It produces, implements and markets the Ariane 5 launcher and is in commercial partnership with Starsem in the Soyuz launcher programme. Arianespace is the current world leader in the commercial launcher field.

For more detailed information, consult the section: "The various actors in the Space domain"