In the Spotlight

Thales Alenia Space in the UK is growing in the value chain

In the Spotlight

Thales Alenia Space in the UK is growing in the value chain

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    GRICAS, an operation...
    Since legal incorporation in 2013 followed by the acquisition of the SEA space business in 2014, Thales Alenia Space in the UK is continuously growing in the Thales Alenia Space value chain as the progress in electric propulsion module development, the quadrupling of the work-force and the further growth ambitions including developing satellite prime capabilities and the Assembly Integration and Test (AIT) of major satellite programmes at the UK National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF). Last week, the European Space Agency Board of Directors were welcomed to RAL Space, home to the UK’s new National Satellite Test Facility both by Thales Alenia Space and RAL Space representatives.
    Ben Olivier, CEO of Thales Alenia Space in the UK stated “With staff in Bristol, Belfast and Harwell, Thales Alenia Space has an energised and well balanced work-force with staff numbers distributed evenly from the most recent graduates and apprentices to some of our industry’s most established experts, this demonstrates the relevance of the Space Sector to the STEM agenda”
    Thales Alenia Space in the UK will continue to expand its activities in sophisticated technologies and scientific and Earth observation instruments and payload technologies, bringing the benefits of the UK’s considerable technology base to new space markets. Ben added that he expected the bi-lateral programme with France for the Microcarb mission to be one of the first programmes to benefit from the NSTF, with the prospect of future ESA missions such as SMILE, FLEX, PLATO in addition to commercial contracts.

    Notes to Editors:

    RAL Space is an integral part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL). RAL Space carries out world-class space research and technology development with involvement in over 210 space missions *The UK aims to capture 10% (£40 billion) of the world’s space market by 2030 as defined by the UK Space Innovation and Growth Strategy.