![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e2/Arianespace_logo.svg/640px-Arianespace_logo.svg.png&w=640&q=50)
Arianespace
European commercial space transportation company / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Arianespace?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Arianespace SA is a French company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial launch service provider. It is the operator of two different launch vehicles: Vega, a small-lift rocket and Ariane 6, a medium or heavy-lift rocket, depending on configuration.
![]() | |
Company type | Subsidary |
---|---|
Industry | Space |
Founded | March 26, 1980; 44 years ago (March 26, 1980) |
Headquarters | , France |
Products | Ariane 6, Vega |
Revenue | ![]() |
![]() | |
Number of employees | 220 (2023)[1] |
Parent | ArianeGroup |
Website | arianespace |
European space launches are conducted by several private companies and government agencies working together. The role of Arianespace is to market the launch services, prepare the missions and handle all relations with customers. At the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) the company oversees the team that integrates and prepares vehicles for launch.
The rockets themselves are designed and produced by other companies, its parent company, ArianeGroup for the Ariane 6 or Avio for the Vega. Launch infrastructure at the CSG is owned by the European Space Agency and the land itself is owned and operated by CNES, the French national space agency.
As of May 2021[update], Arianespace had launched more than 850 satellites in 287 launches over 41 years. The first commercial flight managed by the new entity was Spacenet F1 launched on 23 May 1984. Arianespace uses the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana as its main launch site. It has its headquarters in the Paris suburb of Évry-Courcouronnes.