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Alcatel Alenia Space ready for the Space Shuttle STS-121 Discovery mission countdown

29 June 2006

Alcatel Alenia Space today announced that the MPLM Leonardo (Multifunctional Pressurized Logistical Module), developed by Alcatel Alenia Space for the Italian Space Agency (ASI), will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery flight STS-121set to launch on Saturday July 1st from Cape Canaveral, in Florida.

The MPLM is an inhabitable module which enables the transport (up to 10 tons of payload) of equipment, scientific instrumentation as well as supplies necessary to enable the astronauts to live aboard the Space Station. The MPLM Leonardo will carry more than two tons of equipment and supplies. The payload which will be transported by the MPLM Leonardo will enable the number of astronauts remaining on board the ISS to be increased from two to three, illustrating a significant increase of scientific and technological research activities on board the ISS.

Alcatel Alenia Space, together with ALTEC, one of its subsidiaries responsible for the MPLM Leonardo engineering support and operations, will provide a 24/24 support during the 12 days of the mission. ALTEC (Advanced Logistics and Technological Engineering Center) is part of ISS' Ground-Based Centers network since 2001 (date of the first MPLM Mission). ALTEC and Alcatel Alenia Space cooperate with NASA in the context of the bilateral agreement signed between ASI and NASA, which enables ASI to participate in Space Stations' mission.

Alcatel Alenia Space was responsible for the design, development and integration of the three MPLM - Leonardo, Raffaello and Donatello - supplied to NASA by the Italian Space Agency.

"The forthcoming launch is a key milestone in the life of the Space Station," stated Carlo Alberto Penazzi, CEO of Alcatel Alenia Space in Italy, "and its complete realization will be a turning point in the enhancement of its missions. It will enable the completion and full scientific operational status of the Station, for which Alcatel Alenia Space has constructed 50% of the habitable volume".

The STS-121 mission, the 115th space shuttle flight, will continue the evaluation of flight safety procedures, including shuttle inspection and repair techniques and deliver fresh supplies to the ISS.

About Alcatel Alenia Space
Alcatel Alenia Space is the European leader in satellite systems, at the forefront of orbit infrastructures. Created in July 2005, the company brings together the vast experience and know-how of Alcatel Space and Alenia Spazio to form a new leading force in European space technology. Alcatel Alenia Space represents a worldwide standard for space development that impacts everybody's future: from navigation to telecommunications, from meteorology to environmental monitoring, from defense to science and observation. Alcatel Alenia Space is an affiliate of Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) (67%) and Finmeccanica (Milan:SIFI.MI, FNC.IM) (33%).