CNES

French government space agency (administratively, a "public establishment of industrial and commercial character").

Its headquarters are located in central Paris.

History

• 1961 CNES founded. Hammaguir missile range built in Algeria.
• 1962 Diamant Launch Vehicle introduced
• 1963 Animals launched into orbit via Veronique rockets.
• 1965 First French satellite put in orbit.
• 1967 Hammaguir range closed.
• 1968 Toulouse Space Center completed.
• 1969 French Guiana Space Center completed.
• 1973 Evry Space Center completed.