Arianespace

Arianespace is a French launch-services company created on 26 March 1980 as the world's first commercial space transportation provider, formed to market and operate the European Ariane rocket program. It was established with the backing of European space stakeholders, including the French space agency CNES and aerospace manufacturers across Europe.

The company markets and operates the Ariane family of launch vehicles and the lightweight Vega rocket, flying its missions from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. Its workhorse Ariane 5 heavy-lift rocket flew from 1996 to 2023, deploying more than 230 satellites and achieving a long string of consecutive successful missions before retirement.

As of 2026 Arianespace remains active, operating the new Ariane 6 (which made its maiden flight in July 2024) and the Vega C light launcher (which returned to flight in December 2024). The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of ArianeGroup, the joint venture between Airbus and Safran.