Meeting society's needs
CNES is determined to play a key role in society. Whether getting into space or getting the most out of it, CNES’s expertise stands it in good stead for the challenges of the 21st century.
Access to space
Assured access to space underpins any global, coherent space policy. France was the 3
rd space power to achieve this distinction, sharing technologies with Europe to boost development of the Ariane
launcher family.
Ariane 5 ECA launching ; credits Esa/CNES/Arianespace
International competition in space is fierce, so launch services must be tailored to space operators’ needs.
The new versions of Ariane 5 can launch large satellites or perform dual launches.
And the Vega and Soyuz small and medium-lift launchers are now set to round out this range.
Alongside its European partners, CNES also offers its expertise in satellite deployment.
Sustainable development
Space resources are vital for learning more about the Earth and its evolution. Earth observation and measurements offer ways to ensure sustainable stewardship of our planet.
Turtle carrying an Argos beacon ; credits CLS Argos
CNES and its partners in Europe—through the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security initiative (GMES)—and around the world have put in place satellites dedicated to observing the land, oceans and atmosphere, as well as to hazard and crisis management.
The best-known are the Spot satellites flying the Vegetation instrument, the Topex/Poseidon and Jason-1 oceanography satellites, the Argos system, Envisat and—in the near future—Jason-2 and the Pleiades constellation.
Civil applications
Space technologies are set to offer society a number of advances in the coming years through the emergence of new services. Space is a great equalizer for bridging territorial disparities in education, health and citizenship.
For example, CNES has developed the concept of a “ communications-enabled village ” that combines the high data rates offered by satellite technology with terrestrial technologies.
Artist's impression of the Galileo constellation ; credits : Esa/J.Huart
CNES is also taking part in the Galileo satellite navigation programme alongside the European Union and Esa, and—in a wider international context—in the Cospas-Sarsat search-and-rescue system.
Security and Defence
In an ever-more-complex world, independent information-gathering, location and civil and military intelligence capabilities are a prerequisite for good, independent and responsive decision-making.
The Helios satellite ; credits CNES
In addition to Spot and the future Pleiades satellites, CNES is working for the defence community as prime contractor for the Helios satellites.
GMES—a joint initiative involving the EU, Esa and national space agencies—pools space resources to monitor the environment and protect populations, but it also encompasses satellite support for armed forces and for European organizations on humanitarian or peacekeeping missions.
Research and innovation
Orbital telescopes such as Integral, XMM and Corot, and space probes like Mars and Venus Express, Cassini-Huygens and Rosetta, are revolutionizing our knowledge of the Universe and our Solar System.
Artist's impression of Demeter satellite above Greece ; credits CNES/D.Ducros
Recent satellites such as Demeter (earthquakes), Parasol and Calipso (radiation budget) and Megha-Tropiques (water cycle) are profoundly altering our understanding of the processes at work in the Earth system.
France’s contribution to the International Space Station is giving French scientists the opportunity to perform original experiments in microgravity.
CNES is also an innovator, and is currently studying formation flying, a technique whereby several satellites fly components of a much heavier and complex instrument in a tightly controlled configuration.
