SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.04
European Space Agency logo European Space Agency Intergovernmental agency coordinating European space programs across science, Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, and human spaceflight vs Viasat Operates a global multi-orbit satellite network providing broadband, narrowband, and secure communications for commercial aviation, maritime, enterprise, and defense markets Viasat logo
HEAD-TO-HEAD1 shared sector
European Space Agency Viasat
Founded 1975 1986
Headquarters Paris, France Carlsbad, California
Type government public
Status operating operating
Employees 3,739 7,000
Total funding
Latest round
Sectors Planetary Exploration, Earth Observation & Remote Sensing, Launch Services, Navigation & Positioning, Satellite Communications Satellite Communications, Ground Segment & Networks, Space Defense Systems
Products listed 8 7
Federal contracts 24 ($988.5M)
Launches
Leaders listed Josef Aschbacher, Dietmar Pilz, Toni Tolker-Nielsen Mark Dankberg, Richard Baldridge, Gary Chase
News mentions 14 1
SHARED SECTORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED

How do European Space Agency and Viasat compare?

Both companies work in Satellite Communications. European Space Agency was founded in 1975 and Viasat in 1986.

Which is larger, European Space Agency or Viasat?

Viasat reports the larger workforce, with 7,000 employees versus 3,739.

Which has more US federal contracts, European Space Agency or Viasat?

Viasat has been awarded more, with $988.5M across 24 awards.

Numbers refresh on every render against the live Space Index database. Federal contract data from USAspending.gov; launches from LaunchLibrary2.