Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus Neo product line enters qualification phases and manufacturing process

Critical design review successfully achieved

CANNES, 18-May-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — Thales Alenia Space announces that a major milestone for Spacebus Neo development has been achieved and put on track the qualification and manufacturing of this very innovative product line.

Thales Alenia Space has initiated the development of its brand new telecom satellites product line  with the aim to deliver the most attractive solution for geostationary satellites to meet operators’ needs in the highly competitive worldwide satcom market. This product line is supported jointly by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ARTES programme of Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems, and France’s space agency (CNES).

Already 4 flight models have been ordered by commercial and institutional Customers , with a first launch scheduled in 2019.

Spacebus Neo full electrical platforms will embark major innovations :

•    a very innovative thermal control and enhanced power subsystems,
•    a flexible and highly modular design,
•    a customization for all payloads, including digital solutions and Very High Throughtput Satellites (VHTS).

Following successful Critical Design Review, Spacebus Neo product line is now entering qualification phases and manufacturing process involving an industrial consortium all across Europe :

•    Spacebus Neo hardware (electronics, avionics, propulsion and thermo-structural units) have all started qualification sequence
•    XPS (Xenon Propulsion System) module is being assembled in Thales Alenia Space in UK, avionics module integrated in Thales Alenia Space in Cannes facilities and first payload module parts have been delivered to Thales Alenia Space in Toulouse facilities.

“We are delighted to put on track our Spacebus Neo product line thanks to the fruitful cooperation and strong involvement of all the industries and agencies teams.  More robust, more modular, more powerful, more innovative, more flexible, this platform is perfectly adapted to operators’ expectations in the evolving telecommunication market, and particularly well positioned  for very demanding VHTS missions” declared Bertrand Maureau, Vice President for Telecommunications at Thales Alenia Space.

“As part of our ARTES Neosat programme, Spacebus Neo is a prime example of an effective partnership between European Industry and ESA/CNES Space Agency teams promoting innovation at all levels of the value chain, and resulting in a first class product capable of competing in this challenging and ever-changing market,” said Magali Vaissiere, ESA Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications.

”Since decades Spacebus product line has been a great success, with continuous support from CNES both for commercial missions and dual or military missions. The Spacebus Neo new generation includes the full electric capability which enables increased capacities at lower costs. This program funded by CNES, PIA (Plan d’Investissement d’Avenir) and ESA will be flight in the coming years by major commercial operators and French defense”, said Marie-Anne Clair, CNES Director of Orbital systems.

[1] Eutelsat (2), French MoD, SES
[1] France, Italy, UK, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Romania, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal

Artistic view: © Thales Alenia Space/Master Image Programmes

About Thales Alenia Space
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 2.6 billion euros in 2017 and has 7,980 employees in nine countries.  www.thalesaleniaspace.com

Thales Alenia Space – Press Contacts:

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

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

Cinzia Marcanio
Phone: +39 06 41512685
cinzia.marcanio@thalesaleniaspace.com

SOURCE: Thales Group