CNES is a public industrial and commercial establishment (EPIC). It proposes France's space policy to the public authorities and implements it in five major strategic areas: Ariane, Science, Observation, Telecommunications and Defence.
Its 2 500 employees are spread over four centres of excellence: the Toulouse Space Centre for the design of orbital systems, the Launchers Directorate for the development of launch systems, the Guiana Space Centre for the implementation of European launchers and the Headquarters for the elaboration of space policy.
CNES maintains very close relations with the space industry, its European partners in the framework of the European Space Agency and the European Commission, and internationally. CNES is a major player in economic diplomacy and has enabled French industry to achieve many successes.
CNES is interested in bio-inspiration as a source of potential innovative solutions to the new challenges of space conquest and exploration.
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