(Finance) – Il 2023 was marked by the strong development of innovation and New Space initiativeson the one hand, and on the other by sustained efforts by governments and space agencies to address the crucial challenges of sovereignty, security, connectivity and environmental protection. Thales Alenia Space, joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), looks back on a “year full of exceptional achievements for the future of the space sector”.
In 2023 Thales Alenia Space confirmed its commitment to reducing the digital divide. The commissioning of the Eutelsat Konnect VHTS and Eutelsat 10B satellites, of which the company was prime contractor, “makes it possible to offer advanced connectivity in areas without telecommunications infrastructure, in particular in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and over the Atlantic and Indian Oceans”. In the same vein, the historic agreement to build Chinggis Sat, Mongolia’s national satellite telecommunications system, promises to bring high-speed Internet connectivity across the country, in particular to facilitate access to telemedicine, electronic economy at the same time the growth of high value-added sectors of the economy. Among the telecommunications satellites launched in 2023, the AMAZONAS-NEXUS satellite already makes it possible to strengthen connectivity for the entire American continent, while SATRIA provides telecommunications services in poorly covered areas, the so-called white areas, of the 17,500 islands of the Indonesian archipelago .
Thales Alenia Space has been awarded an important contract withItalian Space Agency (ASI) for the MPH (Multi-Purpose Habitat) project, aimed at being the first permanent habitation outpost on the Moon. This agreement, we read in the note, “consolidates Thales Alenia Space’s leading position in the design of habitation modules for manned space exploration”, given that the company already develops the ESPRIT, I-HAB and HALO pressurized modules for the Lunar Gateway and those of the commercial space station Axiom, whose first module will be launched in 2026.
The Euclid scientific satellite, launched in July 2023, has unveiled the first high-definition images from its orbit around the L2 Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system. These images of extraordinary quality, acquired at over 10 billion light-years, are the first of a long series that will draw the three-dimensional map of the Universe.
Thales Alenia Space played a leading role in the development of ESM service module technologies (European Service Module) of the European Space Agency (ESA), for the Orion capsule. The second European ESM service module, scheduled to launch no earlier than the end of 2024, will be used in the Artemis II mission which plans to fly around the Moon and then return to Earth. It will be the first spacecraft to carry astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Furthermore, the joint venture is at the heart of satellite navigation programs: from Meolut Next to second generation Galileo (G2G). The development of MEOLUT Next has improved search and rescue capabilities in Thailand and Vietnam, detecting and locating emergency signals on land, at sea and in the sky, over a distance of up to 5000 km. Thales Alenia Space has also signed contracts for the maintenance operations of EGNOS V2 and the development of the Galileo second generation (G2G) ground segment, which offers advanced positioning, navigation and time reference performance to over 4 billion users worldwide. world. As responsible for the mission ground segment of the first generation of Galileo, operational since 2016, Thales Alenia Space continues to play a central role in the evolution of satellite navigation technologies.
But, we also go into space to protect and defend. Thales Alenia Space, in partnership with the European Space Agency, signed two contracts for the creation of the IRIDE constellation which will be a pioneering Earth observation program for Italy and Europe. Furthermore, Thales Alenia Space has signed a historic agreement with PT Len Industri to supply the Indonesian Ministry of Defense with an advanced Earth observation constellation based on Thales Alenia Space’s new “All In One” optical and radar solution. The successful launch of the Syracuse 4B satellite consolidated Thales Alenia Space’s position as a major player in military telecommunications.
Thales Alenia Space is also involved in EuroHAPS project of the European Commission. The objective of the project is the development of stratospheric demonstrators such as Thales Alenia Space’s Stratobus, intended to improve the intelligence, surveillance, observation and telecommunications capabilities of existing and future satellite solutions.
Also in 2023, Thales Alenia Space celebrated the anniversaries of four of its European sites. In Toulouse, the company celebrated 40 years of excellence in the fields of altimetry, payloads, civil and military telecommunications systems, satellite navigation and ground segments. The site in Charleroi, Belgium, celebrated 60 years of extraordinary achievements which have contributed to the growth of the European satellite and launcher industry. The Italian sites in Rome and L’Aquila have also celebrated 40 years of experience. The L’Aquila site, specialized in the production of electronic equipment and structural parts for satellites, also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the plant rebuilt in 2013 after the devastating earthquake of 2009. In parallel, the Rome site, dedicated to the design of space systems, Earth observation radars and military telecommunications satellites, remains the nerve center of Thales Alenia Space in Italy.
True to its values, Thales Alenia Space has amplified the commitment to diversity and inclusion, in particular on the occasion of the European Week for the Employment of People with Disabilities. The Cannes and Toulouse sites organized workshops, conferences, exhibitions and partnerships, thus consolidating their status as sites “welcoming to people with disabilities” which favors the inclusion of the 6.8% of disabled collaborators. A mentorship program dedicated to female talents has also been established, which offers accompaniment based on trust for the completion of tasks and career advancement. This development opportunity is in addition to a coaching program intended to accompany all Talents who wish to clarify their priorities, identify their strengths and weaknesses, explore their soft skills and find solutions that match their environment and their values. The company has also implemented the Wittyfit solution, allowing everyone to express themselves about their well-being and concerns at work. Initiatives such as Giving Tuesday and Generation Challenge have promoted solidarity and intergenerational communication as a driving force for performance.
In light of climate change, Thales Alenia Space is committed to decision in sustainable development adopting the eco-design of its products and a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach. For example, the Toulouse plant inaugurated one of the largest parks of photovoltaic shelters in France, reducing CO2 emissions by 65 tonnes per year, equivalent to the consumption of over 630 families. The flagship initiatives also include the creation of the Climate Mural, a collaborative workshop launched in 2023, intended to raise awareness among teams of climate challenges and limit environmental impacts and pollution risks as much as possible.
This year, the SWOT satellite has redefined Earth observation standards offering unparalleled precision images of waterways around the world. Once completed, the SWOT mission will map 90% of continental surface waters, thus offering an unprecedented vision of the planet’s water resources. The first images from the MTG-I1 satellite marked a major breakthrough in the detection of severe storms over Europe and Africa, confirming the mission’s revolutionary potential for detecting and predicting extreme weather events.
In parallel to this ambitious programme, Thales Alenia Space is leading the European Space Agency (ESA) SOLARIS feasibility study aimed at developing new concepts for a solar energy supply system from space. Additionally, the company contributes to an Earth digital twin concept to predict floods as part of the European Commission’s DestinE initiative.
Thales Alenia Space in 2023 has consolidated its leadership position in the New Space sector with the creation of Space Business Catalyst, an innovative industrial accelerator to support revolutionary entrepreneurs and startups in the sector by providing them with commercial, financial and technical support. This commitment in the field of innovation, underlines the joint venture, has been consolidated with the creation of SiPack, an assembly line for advanced chips born from the strategic partnership with Synergie Cad PSC. SiPack aims to produce up to 100,000 pieces per year by 2025 and aims to become a reference in Europe for New Space, “fabless” production, the electronic and microelectronic industries.
Finally, the announcement of the Space Smart Factory project represented a significant step forward in creating a more agile and connected industry. This 21,000 m2 factory, which will be one of the largest in Europe, will use Industry 4.0 technologies, such as digital modeling, digital twins, virtual and augmented reality, as well as supply chain-integrated simulators and automation with robots and cobots.