Cannes, September 12^th, 2014 – Thales Alenia Space announced today that it has signed a new framework contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) concerning the EGNOS navigation system. The contract will enable ESA, delegated by the European Commission, to order work packages from Thales Alenia Space France for the period 2014-2017, to develop new versions of EGNOS V2. Designed to ensure the continuous improvement of EGNOS performance, these new versions will guarantee optimum service quality for users, while also addressing the need to manage obsolescence.

Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor for EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System, which is designed to improve the positioning signals delivered by the GPS satellite navigation system. EGNOS was deployed starting in 2005, and has been operational since 2009, for open service. The system's "Safety of Life" service was officially declared operational in March 2011, and allows it to be used for aircraft landing, enabling precision approaches to European airports without ground guidance aids.

"The signature of this framework contract with ESA, in the presence of GSA*, marks a decisive new step for Europe's EGNOS navigation system," noted Philippe Blatt, head of the Navigation business line at Thales Alenia Space France. "We are already prime contractor for the Galileo Mission Segment (GMS), the Galileo Security Facility (GSF) and the Galileo system. This latest contract confirms Thales Alenia Space's position as the European leader in satellite navigation, a position we have held for over 20 years."

* GSA: European GNSS Agency

About Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and 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 billion euros in 2013, and has 7,500 employees in six countries. www.thalesaleniaspace.com

Mar 19, 2014 ASDNews Source : Airbus Defence and Space

    ASTRA 5B will be the first of six telecommunications satellites scheduled for launch in 2014

Airbus Defence and Space, number two worldwide in space technologies, is preparing the launch of ASTRA 5B, which is due to be put into geostationary orbit (36,000 kilometres) aboard an Ariane 5 launcher on 21 March. ASTRA 5B is the first of six telecommunications satellites that will be launched in 2014. Airbus Defence and Space is also the industrial prime contractor for Ariane 5.

Astra 5B will be deployed at the orbital location of 31.5° East. It will provide extended transponder capacity in Ku and Ka bands with geographical reach over Eastern European and neighbouring markets for DTH (Direct to Home) direct-to-cable and feeding to digital terrestrial television networks. It will also carry a hosted L-band payload for the European Commission’s European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

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Sep 27, 2013 ASDNews Source : Thales Group

Thales Alenia Space today announced the signature of a contract with Telespazio worth more than 120 million euros, within the scope of a contract for the supply of EGNOS services (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), signed by ESSP (European Satellite Services Provider) and Telespazio in July 2013. The overall contract covers EGNOS support and maintenance operations for a period of eight years. As the lead program partner, Thales Alenia Space is responsible for EGNOS maintenance, including obsolescence management and minor upgrades. The aim is to guarantee an optimized service level, as well as to integrate new EGNOS system functions especially for aviation and maritime transport applications.

EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System, is designed to improve the positioning messages supplied by GPS (Global Positioning System). Thales Alenia Space is the EGNOS prime contractor. EGNOS was deployed starting in 2005, and has been operational in "open service" since 2009. The system's "Safety of Life" service was officially declared operational in March 2011, and enables its use in the aviation sector for landings, as well as precision approaches to European airports, without requiring ground guidance systems.

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