 arianespace sa is a french company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial launch service provider.  it undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the ariane 5 launch vehicle as part of the ariane programme. two other launch systems are offered by the company, the soyuz-2 as a medium-lift alternative to ariane 5, and the vega as a lighter one. , arianespace held more than 50 percent of the world market for boosting satellites to geostationary transfer orbit (gto). more than 240 commercial launches have occurred since may 22, 1984, and arianespace states that the total number of launch contracts signed since ariane launches commenced operations in 1984 is 285. arianespace uses the centre spatial guyanais in french guiana as a launch site. it has its headquarters in courcouronnes, essonne, france,"russians, french sign space contract.(upi science report)." united press international. 12 april 2005. retrieved on 24 september 
Aerospace_companies Commercial_launch_service_providers Companies_established_in_1980 European_Space_Agency Space_tourism