EADS SPACE

Building The European Space Industry

Paris, 14 June 2003

EADS SPACE is a fully owned subsidiary of EADS, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company and gathers competences of the EADS group in the fields of space transportation, orbital infrastructures and satellites. EADS SPACE employs 12 300 persons in France, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain.

EADS SPACE has reorganised its main activities within three new companies:

* EADS SPACE Transportation is the European space transportation and orbital infrastructures specialist. It designs, develops and produces Ariane launchers, the Columbus laboratory and the ATV cargo vessel for the International Space Station, atmospheric reentry vehicles, missiles for France’s nuclear deterrent force, propulsion systems and space equipment.
* EADS Astrium is focusing on its satellite business activities covering civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation, science and navigation programmes, avionics and equipments.
* EADS SPACE Services is chartered to develop satellite service activities in the segments of telecommunications and navigation.

Presently, EADS concludes the foundation of Paradigm Secure Communications Ltd., future owner and operator of the Skynet 5 system comprising two satellites manufactured by EADS Astrium as well as connected ground equipment.

EADS SPACE also includes prime roles in space programmes and satellite services are complemented by its specialist subsidiaries:

* EADS CASA Espacio: subsystems for launchers, satellites and orbital infrastructures.
* EADS Sodern: optical instruments and space equipment.
* CILAS: optronics and laser technologies.

CIVILIAN LAUNCHERS AND ORBITAL INFRASTRUCTURES

Guarantee Europe unrestricted, independent access to space, consolidate Europe’s leadership in commercial launch services and lay the ground for the next generation of launch vehicles are some of the fundamental missions of EADS SPACE.

Ariane 5

The new-generation Ariane 5 launcher was developed to keep pace with trends in the commercial launch market, where payloads are becoming larger and heavier. The launcher has been designed as a dual-launch system capable of propelling two satellites with a total weight of between 5.9 and 10 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) simultaneously.

Starting with the next batch of Ariane 5 (batch PA), EADS SPACE Transportation is single Prime Contractor for the Ariane 5 system. As such it is responsible for the delivery to Arianespace, who commercialises the launches of satellites, of the complete, fully tested, launch vehicle, and manages all the contracts associated with its manufacture. EADS SPACE Transportation is becoming the sole point of contact for the European Space Agency for future developments of the launcher.

EADS SPACE Transportation also supplies all the stages of Ariane 5, the equipment bay, the flight software as well as numerous sub-assemblies. Some of these are provided by EADS CASA Espacio who contributes to the upper stage structures.

Europe’s launcher family

Ariane 5 was mainly designed to respond to evolving launch requirements, especially for the GTO launch of heavy satellites and a wider variety of missions such as in-orbit manoeuvrability and International Space station support missions.

To handle other types of missions, EADS SPACE Transportation is also the largest shareholder in the joint French-Russian company Starsem, which markets the Soyuz launcher. Soyuz is designed to launch medium-weight satellites into low or sun-synchronous orbits, but is also deployed on interplanetary missions such as Mars Express, in June 2003. Basing the Soyuz programme in Kourou, French Guyana, as agreed by the ESA member states in June 2002, will allow it to complement the launch services offered by Ariane 5.

Another product of European–Russian co-operation is the Rockot launcher, which adds a valuable lightweight capability to the European launch services line-up. Rockot can propel 1,850 kg into a 200-km orbit at an angle of 63°, or 1,300 kg into a 500-km polar orbit. Rockot is operated by Eurockot Launch Services, a joint venture between EADS SPACE Transportation (51%) and Krunithchev. EADS SPACE Transportation is also involved in the European small launcher programme, Vega, initiated by the ESA council in 1998. Vega’s target lift capability is 1,500 kg and it will inject its payload into a circular orbit at an altitude of 700 km. The system will be marketed by Arianespace and likewise launched from the European Spaceport at Kourou in French Guyana.

Future space vehicles

EADS SPACE Transportation is taking a very active role in the research, technology and development efforts that will support improvements to current launch vehicles and the development of brand-new launcher families. This work covers both conventional expendable launch vehicles (ELV) and the planned partially or totally reusable launch vehicles (RLV) aiming to significantly reduce launch costs.

Looking ahead, EADS SPACE Transportation is currently studying several technological demonstrators, called Pré-X, Phoenix, etc. to break the ground enabling the indispensable technological leaps for the development of tomorrow’s space vehicles.

Contribution to International Space Station

The ISS, in its construction and operation, is the world's largest international cooperative science and technology programme: 10 European countries (represented by ESA), the United States (NASA), Japan (NASDA), Canada (CSA) and Russia (RKA) are participating in the creation of this unique in-orbit research and development centre. In the framework of ESA, EADS SPACE Transportation is the main European partner in this project that marks the beginning of an incredible journey of discovery.

Columbus laboratory

EADS SPACE Transportation is prime contractor to the ESA for the core European contribution to the ISS project, the Columbus laboratory. A pressurized module with its own life-support system, Columbus will provide a full-scale environment for research in zero gravity conditions – into material science, medicine, human physiology, biology, Earth observation, fluid physics and astronomy – and serve as a test-bed for new technologies. Columbus is expected to dock onto the ISS in 2004 and remain operational for at least 10 years.

Automated Transfer Vehicle

EADS SPACE Transportation is also leading an international team from 10 countries on the Automated Transfer Vehicle programme. The ATV is a multipurpose support craft for carrying supplies and fuel to the ISS, docking with it to maintain the station in the correct orbit and also removing waste. The ATV will be the first European vehicle to carry out a rendezvous in space and dock automatically with an orbital station. The first ATV, called Jules Verne, will be launched by an Ariane 5 in 2004. EADS SPACE Transportation is also supplying experiment facilities for various station modules, including the now-operational Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) designed for handling sensitive and toxic materials and substances. The company is well positioned to play a major role in the operations and utilisation phase of the ISS.

SATELLITES

Telecommunications

EADS Astrium is a world leader in the design and manufacture of satellites for mobile communications, fixed services and direct-to-home broadcast missions, for both television and radio and other dedicated applications, for which the company provides the most advanced communications payloads.

It is offering its customers a total communications system capability, from system design, satellite manufacture, launch and in-orbit operations to the full ground control and communications networks.

EADS Astrium developed the outstandingly successful Eurostar series of high-performance telecommunications spacecraft. 33 Eurostar satellites have been ordered so far, and the 23 launched since 1990 have established a remarkable record for reliability and quality. The E2000+ version is a best seller for broadcast missions, and the E3000 versions provide the highest power available today. Already chosen by Eutelsat, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Hispasat and Telesat, E3000 is setting the standard for the satellite communications industry of the future.

EADS CASA Espacio offers satellite subsystems covering a wide range of activities. In particular, for the Telecommunication satellites the company provides structural, thermal and the antenna front end subsystems, as well as power distribution networks.

Environment

In the field of Earth observation satellites, EADS Astrium designs and manufactures a wide range of highly versatile platforms, optical and radar instruments and ground segment equipment for the complete scope of remote-sensing applications, operations and services; the multi-mission Spot platform, now recognised as an industry standard, is in use for a total of 15 European Earth observation satellites, including the Helios military surveillance satellites, the ERS radar satellites, Envisat – the biggest observation satellite ever built in Europe – and the next-generation weather satellites Metop.

The company is well positioned in the growing market for remote sensing data, applications and services from space, through the creation of the Earth observation data service group Infoterra, and by significant holdings in Spot Image and Eurimage.

For these type of spacecraft, EADS CASA Espacio designs, manufactures, and qualifies: satellite platform structures for payload and service modules as well as their antenna, thermal control, and harness subsystems.

Navigation

The European satellite navigation system, Galileo, scheduled to be operational by 2008, will be based on a constellation of 30 satellites in circular orbits, providing full global coverage under civil control. Galileo is a major opportunity for the space industry, and EADS Astrium is playing a major role in the design and development of the system, as one of the founding members and principal shareholder of Galileo Industries SA, a dedicated company which will provide the industrial expertise and support for the programme.

EADS CASA Espacio participates in the design and development of the new European navigation satellite system GALILEO, within its space segment. The company is a shareholder of Galileo Sistemas y Servicios (GSS), which joined the group of companies forming Galileo Industries in March of 2002.

Scientific programmes

EADS Astrium is prime contractor for the spacecraft in ESA's major scientific programmes: the Sun Observatory satellite, SOHO, which, has shown fantastic resilience following its spectacular recovery; the four satellite fleet CLUSTER 2; XMM-Newton, the X-Ray space telescope which has demonstrated exceptional performance and ROSETTA, a deep space cometry explorer. EADS Astrium has also been selected as prime contractor for MARS EXPRESS and VENUS EXPRESS.

Also, as a major subcontractor, EADS CASA Espacio provides structural, thermal, antenna, and power distribution subsystems, as well as their integration. Particularly, the MINISAT Spanish programme was developed by EADS CASA Espacio as Prime Contractor, leading a group of Spanish space companies. It included three scientific experiments plus a technological development experiment.
Specialised capacities

Three other subsidiaries contribute specific skills to EADS Space activities:

EADS CASA Espacio

Being a Centre of Excellence in composite materials, the company’s expertise is by all means, the treatment and application of the carbon fibre material and similars to almost every element of a satellite or launcher.

* It is one of the few places worldwide where the Automated Fibre Placement technology is applied. This permits the production of large carbon fibre structures, in one single piece. With it, a drastic reduction in production costs and time is achieved.
* Also, the Resine Transfer Moulding technology has been mastered in order to produce particular elements like integrated end-fittings in struts, integrated flanges on plates, interface rings, etc., all in carbon fibre.

CILAS's core activities are:

* Military range-finding and target designation,
* Lasers for major scientific programmes.
* Industrial and scientific instrumentation.

EADS SODERN

* In the field of optronic equipment (attitude sensors, detection and scientific instrumentation), EADS SODERN is a worldwide market subcontractor.
* In the EADS SPACE area, EADS SODERN particularly provides key instrument sub-systems Earth sensors and star trackers for the SPOT/HELIOS and EUROSTAR satellites, and supplies guidance sensors for ballistic missiles and for the ATV vehicle.

Services

EADS SPACE Services

* Is responsible for developing satellite service activities in the segments of telecommunications and navigation.
* Certain customers needing services performed via satellites prefer to contract directly for end-to-end service provision instead of taking on the burden (and the risk) of managing procurement and operations themselves. Such schemes also allow for a smoothing of budgets and unload balance sheets (no ownership of the infrastructre).
*
Examples are public authorities who ourtsource their secure communications, remote sensing, or navigation infrastructure. Also, new satellite applications like digital audio radio or in-flight communications may only be introduced as a mass market service by substantial backing and risk-sharing by the industry that provides the related technologies.

SPACE DEFENCE

Space technology is today indispensable for national security and peacekeeping, and for decision-making in the thick of military action. With over 30 years of experience in the field, EADS SPACE is playing a major role in creating a safer world.

Reconnaissance

EADS SPACE is one of few companies worldwide able to offer a complete end-to-end space communication and surveillance capability.

The value of Europe’s military reconnaissance system Helios I, for which EADS Astrium is prime contractor, has been conclusively demonstrated time and time again in recent conflicts in Irak, Afghanistan and Kosovo. The company is now developing the next generations with emphasis on employing the latest developments in leading-edge technologies. The Helios II programme, which includes two new satellites and an enhanced user ground segment, will take over towards 2004/05.

Building on its heritage in both optical and radar satellites, EADS Astrium is developing new concepts. These smaller, cost-effective, high-performance satellites give access to flexible, high-quality, multi-source spatial imaging for rapid tactical response. EADS Astrium has long experience of providing space-based communications products and services that respond to the highly specific requirements of the military user – it has supplied, for example, satellites such as the UK MoD’s Skynet 4 series (adopted by NATO for its NATO IV satellites), and the French government’s Telecom 2 which acquitted themselves superbly in the field. The company is designing and developing the next generation of secure communications systems, in particular within the framework of the UK MoD’s Skynet 5 programme. EADS Astrium also supplies an extensive range of satellite ground system products and terminals while EADS SPACE, with full ownership of Paradigm Secure Communications, will provide operating services for the Skynet 5 system.

Ballistic Missiles

EADS SPACE Transportation is the prime contractor for the ballistic missile systems that form France’s strategic deterrent. The company is responsible for development of the M45 and M51 submarine-launched missiles, as well as their operating systems. EADS SPACE Transportation is also tasked with operational maintenance of the missiles, assisting the French armed forces during test firing and with missile integration facilities at the Ile Longue naval base.

EADS SPACE Transportation and its predecessor companies have overseen the development of five generations of strategic missiles in the past 30 years.

Ballistic Missile defence

EADS is the only Group in Europe with the full range of skills and technologies needed to develop, deploy and support ballistic missile defence systems, whether for the protection of armed forces or entire countries and their populations. EADS has the international stature required to enable a joint European approach, coupled with the scale to sustain a balanced transatlantic partnership.

EADS SPACE provides the space and exo-atmospheric* segment of the EADS portfolio, sharply distinguishing the Group from other European aerospace companies. Ballistic missile defence is inseparable from EADS SPACE’s core business: deterrence, access to space, and satellites.

EADS Astrium subsidiary has the expertise to develop early warning satellites and ballistic missile surveillance systems. Its experience with observation satellites and its participation in the Spiral early warning demonstrator are also major competitive advantages.

In the field of exo-atmospheric defence systems, EADS SPACE Transportation has acquired the relevant skills and technologies through its involvement in the M45 and M51 programmes developed for France’s nuclear deterrent, as well as work on space transportation and orbital infrastructure programmes. The extensive capabilities of this subsidiary include system engineering and integration of the entire defence system, expertise in ballistic warfare and live flight tests, and the ability to manufacture exo-atmospheric* interceptors and provide the corresponding operational support.

*9Exo-atmospheric = high altitude interception

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