CNES (The National Centre for Space Studies) is a French government space agency. Its headquarters are located in Paris. CNES is responsible for the development and operation of France’s space program.
France has been involved in space exploration since the early days of the Space Race, and CNES has played a major role in this effort. CNES was founded in 1961 as an successor to the earlier Service d’Aeronautique Spatiale (SAS), which had been responsible for rocket research in France since 1945. SAS itself had been created as a result of World War II, when it became apparent that France needed its own dedicated space agency if it was to remain a major player in the emerging field of spaceflight.
CNES has been responsible for some major achievements in spaceflight, including:
– The launch of France’s first satellite, Astérix-1, in 1965
– The launch of Europe’s first Ariane rocket, which went on to become one of the most successful commercial launch vehicles ever built
– The development of several key technologies used on board the International Space Station, such as the robotic arm used to dock spacecraft
– The construction of two French spaceports: Kourou in French Guiana and Bordeaux-Mérignac near Bordeaux