CNES

CNES, which stands for the Centre national d'études spatiales (National Centre for Space Studies) in French, is the main space agency of France. It helps plan and carry out space missions, working with scientists and engineers to explore the universe. The agency is based in central Paris and is supported by important government departments, including those for the Armed Forces, Economy and Finance, and Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

CNES has two major centers where it does its work: the Toulouse Space Centre and the Guiana Space Centre. These centers are where many important satellites and rockets are prepared and launched. The current leader of CNES is François Jacq. CNES is also part of a bigger group called the Institute of Space, its Applications and Technologies.

As Europe's largest national space organization, CNES plays a big role in advancing space science and technology. It works together with other countries and organizations to make discoveries about Earth, our solar system, and beyond. Through its missions, CNES helps improve our understanding of space and how it affects our daily lives.

History

The CNES, or the French National Centre for Space Studies, started in 1961 under President Charles de Gaulle. It is the third oldest space agency in the world, after the Soviet space program and NASA. CNES trained French astronauts until 2001 when they joined the European Space Agency.

In 2015, CNES worked with Germany and other countries on a small research project. The goal was to design a new type of rocket using LOX and methane. If built, testing might start around 2026. This new design aimed to make rockets cheaper and faster, especially because of competition from newer, less expensive options like the Ariane 6.

Programs

CNES works on many important space activities. This includes helping people travel to space and using space to improve daily life. They study the Earth and space and support security and defense work.

France was the third country to send people and tools into space. It worked with Europe to build rockets that can carry large satellites into space. CNES also works on satellites that watch Earth’s land, oceans, and air. These satellites help us learn more about our planet.

CNES helps with navigation systems used by many countries. It also works with other space agencies on exciting projects, like telescopes that look far into space and probes that travel to planets like Mars and Venus. This teamwork helps scientists discover amazing things about our universe.

In 2007, CNES shared its collection of reports about unusual things seen in the sky with the public. These reports came from people and airline workers over many years.

Governance structure

The CNES is led by a president or CEO, a COO, and a deputy CEO. Here are the presidents of CNES since it began:

• 1961–1962 Pierre Auger
• 1962–1967 Jean Coulomb
• 1967–1973 Jean-François Denisse
• 1973–1976 Maurice Lévy
• 1976–1984 Hubert Curien
• 1984–1992 Jacques-Louis Lions
• 1992–1995 René Pellat
• 1995–1996 André Lebeau
• 1996–2003 Alain Bensoussan
• 2003–2013 Yannick d'Escatha
• 2013–2021 Jean-Yves Le Gall
• 2021–2025 Philippe Baptiste
• 2025– François Jacq

Tracking stations

The CNES has several tracking stations. Some of these stations include:

• Kourou in French Guiana
• Issus Aussaguel, 20 km away from Toulouse
• Kerguelen Island, French Southern and Antarctic Lands
• Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory, South Africa
• Kiruna, Sweden, for the SPOT program