Prime contractor of 4 satellites launched in four months since the beginning of the year

In progress: development of new products and start of the realization phase for SWOT program

Cannes, July 12, 2016 – Thales Alenia Space, a joint-venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo-Finmeccanica (33%), announces the start of the SWOT satellite (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) production phase, of KaRIn (Ka-band Radar Interferometer) the innovative equipment altimeter’s heart, as well as Poseidon 3C radar altimeter, during a ceremony taking place at French space agency CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales).

The SWOT contract, an oceanographic study program demonstrating new applications is following on from operational missions Jason-1-2-3, has been signed on January 6, 2015. It will bring unprecedented technological innovations within the field of altimetry. Built in collaboration with JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) on behalf of the French (CNES) and American (NASA) space agencies, the aim of SWOT is to measure the topography of oceans and continental surface water.

This important milestone for SWOT program reflects Thales Alenia Space involvement, success and dynamism in programs dedicated to Earth Observation and in exploration of the universe. Since the beginning of 2016, 4 launches in 4 months from 4 different sites carried spacecrafts “made in” Thales Alenia Space: Jason 3 oceanographic satellite on January 17 from the Vandenberg base in California, Sentinel 3A satellite dedicated to the environment on February 16 from Plesetsk in Russia, ExoMars spacecraft heading to the Red Planet on March 14 from Baikonour in Kazakhstan, and Sentinel 1B, environmental satellite on April 25 from Kourou in Guyane.

Thales Alenia Space’s expertise within the field of Earth Observation covers both meteorological missions (all the generations of Meteosat satellites since 30 years), climatological missions (Calipso recently celebrated its 10 years of operational in-orbit life for 3 years originally specified), altimetry (The legacy of Poseidon altimeter is a Worldwide reference), and high resolution optical observation missions. In this area Thales Alenia Space has supplied all of the French defense high resolution instruments and put on the export market its new Earth Observer Optical solution that enables a sovereign and competitive access to high resolution imaging.

Photo copyright: © CNES/David Ducros

About Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo-Finmeccanica (33%), is a key European player in space telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, exploration and orbital infrastructures. Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio form the two parent companies' “Space Alliance”, which offers a complete range of services and solutions. Because of its unrivaled expertise in dual (civil/military) missions, constellations, flexible payloads, altimetry, meteorology and high-resolution optical and radar instruments, Thales Alenia Space is the natural partner to countries that want to expand their space program. The company posted consolidated revenues in excess of 2.1 billion euros in 2015, and has 7,500 employees in 8 countries. www.thalesaleniaspace.com

Thales Alenia Space Press Contacts:

Sandrine Bielecki
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94
sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com

Chrystelle Dugimont
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 74 06
chrystelle.dugimont@thalesaleniaspace.com