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Thales Alenia Space Thales Alenia Space strengthens its European leadership in space systems with the provision since the beginning of the year of 5 telecommunication satellites, 2 telecommunication payloads, 1 observation satellites and the LEO constellation for 03b networks (16 birds). In 2008 Thales Alenia Space is performing a strong industrial activity and is participating 20 missions using all types of launchers.

European leader for satellite systems and at the forefront of orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%) and forms with Telespazio a Space Alliance. Thales Alenia Space is a worldwide reference in telecoms, radar and optical Earth observation, defense and security, navigation and science. Thales Alenia Space has 11 industrial sites in 4 European countries (France, Italy, Spain and Belgium) with over 7,200 employees worldwide.

Thales Alenia Space is at the heart of the most high-performance satellite technologies in both civil and defense sectors. The company is deeply involved in:

• Environmental projects based on Earth observation such as the Kopernikus (formerly Global Monitoring for Environment and Safety GMES) program with Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-3, Meteorology such as MSG (Thales Alenia Space provided all the Meteosat satellites for Eumetsat), Climatology as satellite prime contractor for SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) mission;
• Defense, as prime contractor for the French Syracuse (I, II and III) and the Italian (Sicral) telecommunication systems as well as for the Italian Earth Observation system COSMO-SkyMed; and main partner of the German telecom program (Satcom BW) and of the Earth observation programs Helios (France) and SAR-Lupe (Germany);
• Navigation with Galileo and prime contractor of EGNOS - the precursor of Galileo;
• Science and Exploration, as prime contractor for the ExoMars mission - one of the most ambitious exploration missions in the near future, and for the GOCE satellite (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer);
• Space Infrastructure and Transportation as provider of 50% of the ISS pressurized volume. Today, Thales Alenia Space is the leading European supplier of satellite-based solutions for Defense and Security, with strong positions in both space and ground segments. In addition, the company is the European benchmark supplier of facility operational services for the European Space Agency (ESA), the French space agency CNES, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) as well as for the French, Italian and German Ministries of Defense, the Defense procurement agency DGA and other major customers. Thales Alenia Space is also active in the civil-military satellite export market, through Koreasat 5 in South Korea, Star One in Brazil and Yahsat in United Arab Emirates.

Telecommunication satellites : a strong position across the board, from components to systems

Thales Alenia Space is one of the world's leading space telecom players, with orders from the United States, Russia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, and growing business with Asian customers.

In terms of satellites ordered, Thales Alenia Space has already won in 2008 contracts for 5 telecommunications satellites (Eutelsat W3B, Thor 6 for Telenor in Norway, Nilesat 201, EuropaSat for Inmarsat and RascomQAF-1R for Rascom), 2 telecommunication payloads (Amos-4 and Amos-5 for Spacecom Israelian Operator) as well as the LEO constellation for 03b Networks (16 birds).

Thales Alenia Space offers today an extended platform range for geostationary telecommunications missions (Spacebus), culmination of over twenty years of continuous development and a new range of LEO platforms dedicated to constellations.

Thales Alenia Space is also the worldwide leader in telecommunication payloads with over 200 payloads ordered (i.e. 30% of market share). In addition, we are among the world leaders in space borne microwave equipment, with products integrated in 50% of all satellites built worldwide.

Earth observation : a full range of applications and technologies for both civil and military requirements

Thales Alenia Space is not only the world leader in geostationary weather satellites (as prime for first and second-generation Meteosat satellites - MSG), but has also developed strong expertise in low-orbit climatology missions (such as Calipso for CNES/NASA) and in the construction of Earth observation ground segments.

Thales Alenia Space is the European leader in high precision optical and radar imaging instruments and also the world leader in space altimetry. After its important participation in Cryosat and Envisat environmental monitoring satellite for the European Space Agency (ESA), in Earth observation satellites SPOT and in ocean observation satellites Jason 1 & 2 for CNES/NASA and SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) program for ESA, Thales Alenia Space is also playing a major role in Kopernikus, a key European program that aims to set up a global monitoring system, with the provision of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-3 satellites. Kopernikus enables Thales Alenia Space to provide its competencies in meteorology, environment monitoring and earth observation.

Offering dual civil-military technologies, Thales Alenia Space is strongly involved in ORFEO (Optical and Radar Federated Earth Observation), the French-Italian dualuse system. In the scope of this program, the company has provided the dual COSMO-SkyMed radar satellites and its associated ground segment and the Pleïades optical satellites. Thales Alenia Space has also provided the high-resolution instruments for Helios 1 & 2 French Defense and Security observation satellites. Earth observation : a full range of applications and technologies for both civil and military requirements

Science : the European reference

Thales Alenia Space is the clear European reference in space-based science programs. Major successes include the exceptional results of the ISO (Infrared Space Observatory) spacecraft - designed to discover water traces around the planets in our solar system, followed by those of Integral - which is the most sensitive, accurate and advanced gamma-ray observatory ever launched.

In addition, Thales Alenia Space is involved in the ESA exploration challenges such as Huygens, Rosetta, Mars Express, Venus Express, Herschel/Planck and ExoMars

The ExoMars program, worth 600 million euros, is one of the most important exploration missions in the near future. It aims at sending a lander rover to Mars in order to find traces of past or present life. Thales Alenia Space is prime contractor for ExoMars.

Thales Alenia Space was at the heart of the most ambitious and technological success of the Cassini-Huygens mission to Titan, it is the first European company to have met the challenge of integrating a spacecraft designed to resist such harsh conditions.

This position has been achieved thanks to a number of complementary skills, including the ability to coordinate international alliances in long-term endeavors, to assemble, integrate and test scientific probes, and through its proven expertise in the technologies needed for space astronomy and interplanetary missions with landings as well as in outer space telecommunications.

European leader for navigation systems

Thales Alenia Space is prime contractor for EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System), which was delivered to ESA mid-2005 and is now operational. Thales Alenia Space led a consortium of 50 companies in 11 countries and provided key parts of the space and ground segments. In particular, it supplied the Performance Assessment Tools (PAT), the Central Control Facility (CCF), the Reference Integrity Monitoring Station (RIMS) and the Artemis satellite navigation transponder. Using both the GPS and Glonass constellations of satellites, EGNOS will provide users with high-precision positioning services, in the field of air navigation, land and maritime transport for example. It is an integral part of the services to be offered by Galileo, Europe's future satellite navigation system and one of the biggest and most ambitious projects undertaken by the European space industry. EGNOS certification is expected for 2009.

Thales Alenia Space defined the overall architecture of the Galileo system on behalf of the European Union and the satellite architecture for ESA. Thales Alenia Space has been a driving partner in Galileo since the outset, in charge of the ground segment as well as the satellite integration and providing critical equipment and subsystems (IOV phase). Giove-B satellite, launched in April 2008, has been integrated and tested within Thales Alenia Space in Rome.

Building on its experience in EGNOS, Galileo and Enhanced Assisted-GPS solutions, Thales Alenia Space offers value added Location-Based Solutions (LBS). As part of the EU's 6th R&D program, Score integrates reliable positioning data in emergency services (E112) while Liaison supports the development of professional solutions for isolated workers, police and civil security forces, taxis...

A major contribution to the International Space Station (ISS)

Thales Alenia Space has designed and built 50% of the Station's pressurized volume, that is the living space. The company also contributed to the related launch, transportation and re-entry systems.

Thales Alenia Space is prime contractor for the three inhabitable Multipurpose Pressurized Logistics Modules (MPLM) - Leonardo/ Rafaello/ Donatello, Nodes 2 and 3 (the interconnecting elements between the various pressurized modules on the ISS), and the Cupola observation module; and is a main contributor to the Columbus scientific laboratory for research in a microgravity environment and to the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), that will give vital logistic support to the ISS by transporting fuel, air and drinking water.

In 2007, the Node 2 successfully docked to the ISS. In February and March 2008, the Columbus laboratory as well as the ATV Jules Verne were connected to the ISS. They will be followed by the Leonardo MPLM module that will carry more than two tons of equipment and supplies, in November 2008.

From system to added value services To meet all the customers requirements

Thales Alenia Space is now an integral part of the Thales group and leverage synergies with its other divisions, dealing with information systems or air traffic control for example.

This has boosted the Thales Alenia Space leadership for the "system of systems" market, but the company is also increasingly focusing on providing turnkey solutions that include services.

To meet this goal, it is working more and more closely with Telespazio, as the Space Alliance formed with this company is a major advantage in meeting the needs of the changing market.

Land and space technologies are complementary, and today's satellite broadcasting capabilities mean effective and profitable solutions for all types of customers, whether governments, operators, businesses, trade associations, etc. Thales Alenia Space has established a strong position in the market for new applications, including solutions for Mobile TV, High Definition TV (HDTV), direct audio broadcasting (DAB), or high-precision positioning for wireless telephony (LBS).

Thales Alenia Space is also ready for the revival of various constellation projects, which offer unrivaled opportunities. Because of its experience on Globalstar 1, the recent won contract for the second-generation Globalstar, the company has been selected by Iridium for phase 3 of its constellation development, and today is at the heart of the audacious initiative by O3b networks.

An unprecedented industrial capability

Thales Alenia Space is present in 4 European countries with 11 industrial sites and has an extensive expertise in optical engineering, visible and infrared detection, mechanical and thermal architectures, cryogenics, and assembly, integration and test.

• More than 15000 sq. meters of clean room
• To manage the entire chain of integration responsibility, the company hosts clean rooms dedicated to electronical, mechanical, digital or microwave equipment.
• Satellite's assembly and integration
• The only integrated manufacturing and test center in Europe: a single class 100,000 facility, spanning 8,700 sq. meters
• Highly sophisticated analysis and testing tools and facilities, including a 600-cubic-metre optical vacuum chamber, the only one of its kind in Europe.
• All environmental tests: thermal, structural, mechanical, radio
• Transport to launch pad in safety conditions - using special procedures including the data acquisition system - between Cannes and the launch sites.
• Multi-site capability particularly dedicated to constellations

In 2007, Thales Alenia Space has obtained 3 major certifications, ISO9001, EN9100 and AQAP2110, representing an international performance and maturity recognition of Thales Alenia Space's process excellence.

See the videos [WMV format] about:
- THALES ALENIA SPACE's video - English version
- INFOMOBILITY - English version
- ENVIRONMENT - English version
- DEFENSE - English version / French version
- DEFENSE & SECURITY - English version
- SCIENCE - English version
- PROGRAM COROT - English version / French version
- NAVIGATION SOLUTIONS - English version