Arianespace is a European company that provides launch services for satellites. Founded in 1980, it was the world's first commercial launch service provider. The company operates the Ariane rocket family, including the Ariane 5, which is known for its reliability and capacity to carry heavy payloads into space. Based in Evry, France, Arianespace collaborates with the European Space Agency (ESA) and various international partners. Its primary launch site is the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, which offers a strategic location near the equator for efficient satellite launches.