Operators, launch companies, space agencies, governments… everybody who’s anybody in the space business, especially telecoms, were in Washington, D.C. last week for Satellite 2018 – the annual get-together for our industry.

During the opening ceremony, Thales Alenia Space unveiled its latest video, “Space becomes Digital”. The main subject of the film was, logically enough, the digital transformation. While this may be the latest buzzword at many companies, at Thales Alenia Space it takes on very tangible form. In fact, we could have called the film, “Space is already Digital”! Several examples in the space telecom sector showcase the company’s expertise in digital solutions, starting with Iridium^® NEXT.

Forty satellites in this constellation are already in orbit, and the next launch is slated for the end of the month. Thales Alenia Space rose to the challenge of supplying a complete turnkey system, a next-generation Iridium that would be fully compatible with the first generation of Iridium satellites already in orbit. This was clearly a feat of technical and organizational prowess.

Connect with anybody, anywhere and at any time: that’s one of the main challenges facing all telecommunications players. Today’s users want ever more connectivity and mobility, and they want constant access to increasingly rich content. One of the best solutions to address this confirmed trend is the satellite communications system, in particular when using a digital payload.

For example, SES chose Thales Alenia Space to build a very high throughput satellite (VHTS), SES-17, that includes a digital payload. The passengers will be able to have access to connectivity services onboard an aircraft thanks to this satellite. These new satcom systems, including the satellite(s) in orbit and a ground segment, are perfectly suited to the evolution of connectivity needs onboard planes. In other words, digital payloads can meet operators’ changing communications needs throughout the satellite’s mission. Another example, an Inmarsat satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor, was successfully launched into orbit in 2017. This satellite, for its part, meets the needs for secure communications onboard cockpits.

BlackSky: a new angle on Earth observation

It’s official! On March 13, Thales Alenia Space, Telespazio and Spaceflight Industries finalized their alliance. They will be producing 60 small Earth observation satellites, while also delivering innovative geospatial services. Thales Alenia Space and the American company Spaceflight Industries have created a 50/50 joint venture called LeoStella LLC. According to Jean-Loïc Galle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Thales Alenia Space, “This joint venture, combining Spaceflight Industries’ high-tech platform design with Thales Alenia Space’s industrial expertise in telecom constellations, will offer production capacity exceeding the needs of the BlackSky system. Our partnership reflects the transformation strategy being applied by Thales Alenia Space to address the ‘new space’ environment, and allows us to stake out a position as a major manufacturer in the market segment for small observation satellites featuring high revisit rates in both Europe and the United States.” BlackSky offers a digital platform for access to space data, whose approach is perfectly in line with Thales's strategy in terms of data management and Artificial Intelligence.

Digital Space by Thales Alenia Space

In today’s fiercely competitive satellite market, manufacturers have to produce more, faster and cheaper! New technologies have become the inescapable drivers to increase satellite production within a fast-evolving market. The Factory of the Future concept aims to introduce these state-of-the-art, cost-competitive technologies into the production process, as a full-fledged part of the company’s digital transformation. Additive manufacturing, robots and cobots, Factory 4.0, virtual and augmented reality, digital twins, artificial intelligence… These and other futuristic concepts are already in place, showing that innovation is not just the latest trendy word, but really comes into its own at Thales Alenia Space. Visitors were able to see this for themselves at Satellite 2018 in Washington, D.C.!

Copyrights:
First artistic view: © Thales Alenia Space/Briot
Movie + the 3 following artistic views: © Thales Alenia Space/Master Image Programmes
BlackSky: © Spaceflight Industries
Last artistic view: © Thales Alenia Space/Creative Spirit