Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space
Industry Aerospace
Predecessor Alcatel and Finmeccanica
Headquarters Cannes, France
Key people
 Jean-Loïc Galle, President and CEO
2 billion € (2015)[1]
Number of employees
 7,980 (2016)[1]
Parent Thales Group & Leonardo
Website www.thalesgroup.com/en/global/activities/space Edit this on Wikidata
The Headquarters of Thales Alenia Space in the seashore building of the Cannes Mandelieu Space Center

Thales Alenia Space is a Franco-Italian aerospace manufacturer formed[2] after the Thales Group bought the participation of Alcatel in the two joint-ventures between Alcatel and Leonardo, Alcatel Alenia Space and Telespazio.[3] The company is Europe's largest satellite manufacturer.[4]

History

Alcatel Alenia Space was established on June 1, 2005 by the merger of Alcatel Space and Alenia Spazio and was owned by Alcatel-Lucent (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%).

The creation of the company was concurrent with the creation of Telespazio Holding. This too was a merger of Finmeccanica and Alcatel businesses (Telespazio and Alcatel's Space Services and Operations respectively).

On April 5, 2006 Alcatel agreed to sell its share of Alcatel Alenia Space (and its 33% share of Telespazio) to Thales Group.[5]

The European Union agreed in this financial operation on April 10, 2007.[6]

Activities

The company built the Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules, which was used to transport cargo inside the Space Shuttle orbiters. They also built several modules for the International Space Station, those modules are: Cupola, Columbus, Harmony, Tranquility and Leonardo. They currently build also the pressurized vessels for the Automated Transfer Vehicle and Cygnus spacecraft.[7]

In the mid-1990s, the United States stopped issuing export licenses for satellite components that will be launched on Chinese rockets, fearing that this would help China's military. In response, Thales Alenia developed a line of ITAR-free satellites that contained no restricted US components. From 2005 to 2012, ITAR-free satellites such as Apstar 6,[8] Chinasat-6B, and Apstar 7 were launched on Chinese Long March rockets.[9] However, the US Department of State did not accept the ITAR-free status of these satellites and fined the US company Aeroflex $8 million for selling ITAR components. In 2013, Thales Alenia discontinued its ITAR-free satellite line.[10]

Locations

In 2016, Thales Alenia Space had 7,980 employees and from 2013 operates in 14 industrial sites located in seven countries (France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, United Kingdom, Germany and United States):

Executive Board

Jean-Loïc Galle as 2015

Current CEO is Jean-Loïc Galle since September 2012, replacing Reynald Seznec.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/global/activities/space#key-figures
  2. ↑ "Creation of the New Space Alliance between Thales and Finmeccanica" (Press release). Thales Alenia Space. April 10, 2007. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Alcatel and Finmeccanica finalize the creation of new joint ventures and announce nominations" (Press release). Alcatel. July 1, 2005. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "Alcatel pursues the transfer of its satellite activities and critical systems for security to Thales" (Press release). Alcatel. April 5, 2006. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Alcatel-Lucent cleared by the EU to transfer its space assets to Thales" (Press release). Thales Alenia Space. April 10, 2007. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Harvey, Brian (2013). China in Space: The Great Leap Forward. New York: Springer. pp. 160–162. ISBN 9781461450436.
  9. ↑ "China launches satellite despite restrictions". USA TODAY. July 6, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  10. ↑ Ferster, Warren (5 September 2013). "U.S. Satellite Component Maker Fined $8 Million for ITAR Violations". SpaceNews.
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