Arianespace was founded in 1980 as the world’s first satellite
launch company. Today, it has 21 shareholders from 10 European
countries (including CNES with 34%, Astrium with 30% and all European
companies participating in the Ariane 5 programme). Since its
creation, Arianespace has signed contracts with 78 customers and
launched with Ariane launchers 298 payloads, accounting for more than
half of the commercial satellites now in service worldwide.
