The world’s first commercial space transportation company for private and government customers. Created in 1980, Arianespace is financed by European banks and aerospace industries. It operates a full family of launchers: Ariane, Soyuz, and Vega. In October 2011 the company launched the first Soyuz rocket ever from outside former Soviet territory. To date, its rockets have launched over 550 satellites into orbit; and Arianespace holds more than 50% of the world market for placing satellites in geostationary transfer orbits.