Because of political constraints and scientific expertise, it was deemed necessary to separate the charge of the realisation from that of the launching of satellites. After the planned collapse of European Preparatory Commission for Space Research, besides the still in-operational but legally founded the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO), a new organisation with different aims and tasks was established – European Organisation for the Development and Construction of Space Vehicle Launchers (ELDO), which was devoted to the launch of space vehicle. The Convention for the establishment of the European Organisation for the Development of Space Vehicle Launchers was signed by six European countries, (Belgium, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Netherlands and United Kingdom) and Australia before 30 April 1962. ELDO dealt with the development and construction of space vehicle launchers and ancillary equipment. First ESRO and then the European Space Agency (ESA), (the organisation that replaced ESRO and ELDO) pursued some programmes and used its facilities. In fact, ESA incorporated the European facilities and equipment of the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, there developing the launching programme of ARIANE-1 (ELA-1).

Note ISAAR changed on 10 March 2016 ; Updating on 30 April 2019