CNES, the French Space Agency created in 1961 by the French government, is a public establishment of an industrial and commercial nature (EPIC) which is in charge of :
- helping define and carry out French Space policy within a framework of international cooperation and in particular within Europe in which France continues to play a leading role,
- guarantee European access to Space and control of its use for national and European needs.
At the Guiana Space Centre, CNES is :
- owner of the whole of the Guiana Space site,
- the design authority for all ground facilities produced on the site,
- represents the French government which is in charge of launches,
- is owner of all of the technical facilities implemented for carrying out its mission with the exception of the Satellite Preparation Complexes (EPCU), downrange stations and the Ariane Launch Complexes
- Responsible for defining and implementing range and on-board safety measures and measures for protecting the environment,
- Responsible for operating and maintaining the EPCU,
- First level customer for all of the manufacturers on the Launch Base.
