CNES Overview
A complete overview of CNES, including launch stats, launch vehicles and launch locations.
Basic Info
Name
CNES
Type
Government
Country
France
Founded
1961
Administrator / CEO
Jean-Yves Le Gall
Launch Stats
First Launch
26 Nov 1965
Last Launch
27 Sep 1975
Successful Launches
12
Failed Launches
2
Upcoming Launches
0
Successful Landings
0
Failed Landings
0
The National Center of Space Research, or CNES, is a French National Agency in charge of France's space program. In partnership with the US and Russia, they have put 10 people in space. CNES works in tandem with the larger ESA to develop the Ariane 5 and work on other probes and satellites. They are working with Germany to develop a cheaper and more efficient reusable rocket, which hopefully will be ready to fly by 2026.
Launch Sites used by CNES
Guiana Space Centre
European spaceport near the equator for satellite launches, managed by ESA and CNES.
Vandenberg SFB
U.S. Space Force facility in California for spacecraft launches and missile testing.
Wallops Island
NASA rocket launch site for science and exploration missions, established in 1945 in Virginia.