London, December 4, 2017 - Thales Alenia Space was honored today by winning a 2017 Better Satellite World Awards for its MEOLUT Next solution. This award was given by Space & Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) at London’s prestigious One Whitehall Place, which aim is to reward established companies and disruptive innovators for making our world a more prosperous, healthier, better-educated, more sustainable and inclusive home for all humankind.
According to SSPI, recipients for the Better Satellite World Awards were evaluated in three categories. These were global or regional impact; distribution of knowledge for the improvement of living standards; and governance and commerce. The selection of the recipients for the Better Satellite World Awards was made by an international jury consisting of a broad cross-section of industry thought leaders and distinguished professionals. MEOLUT Next is Thales Alenia Space’s newest contribution to satellite search and rescue efforts to save more lives. After being commissioned in August 2016, MEOLUT Next started operation on December 13 of that year, as the world’s first spaceborne Search & Rescue system of this type and is now fully operational and integrated in the Cospas-Sarsat system.
“Thales Alenia Space believes in space as humankind’s new horizon, which will enable to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. Saving lives is totally integrated in our company’s aspiration and demonstrated by our participation in the Search and Rescue services offered by Cospas-Sarsat”. We are honored to have received this award for MEOLUT Next which has already proved its operational efficiency and the wonderful story of technology’s contribution to life on Earth“ declared Philippe Larhantec, MEOLUT Next product line manager.
About COSPAS/SARSAT
COSPAS/SARSAT is an intergovernmental organization founded by Canada, the United States, Russia and France. In operation since 1985, it provides a free global Search & Rescue service, using the infrastructures from 43 countries worldwide. French space agency CNES is the official French representative for this organization. Today, some 500,000 ships and 150,000 aircraft are equipped with COSPAS/SARSAT distress beacons, allowing them to use this service. The service has saved more than 37,000 lives since the outset.About Thales Alenia Spacewww.thalesaleniaspace.com Thales Alenia Space – Press Contacts:
Combining 40 years of experience and a unique diversity of expertise, talents and cultures, Thales Alenia Space architects design and deliver high technology solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments, institutions and companies rely on Thales Alenia Space to design, operate and deliver satellite-based systems that help them position and connect anyone or anything, everywhere, help observe our planet, help optimize the use of our planet's – and our solar system’s – resources. Thales Alenia Space believes in space as humankind’s new horizon, which will enable to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services and solutions. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of about 2.4 billion euros in 2016 and has 7,980 employees in nine countries.Sandrine Bielecki
Phone: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94 sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.comChrystelle Dugimont
Phone: +33 (0)4 92 92 74 06 chrystelle.dugimont@thalesaleniaspace.comCinzia Marcanio
Tel: +39 06 41512685 cinzia.marcanio@thalesaleniaspace.com