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Proteus platform added to approved NASA Rapid Spacecraft Development Office supplier catalog

14 November 2006

Alcatel Alenia Space today announces that Proteus, the flight-proven multi-mission Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) platform developed in cooperation with the French space agency CNES, has been selected by NASA to be part of their Rapid Spacecraft Development Office (RSDO) catalog.

Patrick Mauté, Senior vice-president of Alcatel Alenia Space and head of Optical Observation and Science activities says: "Today's announcement is a result of our involvement with NASA and CNES on the Proteus platform for the Jason-1 and Calipso missions. The Jason-1 oceanographic satellite is operating nominally in orbit with an extended life time and Calipso is providing excellent performances for climatology. "

The Proteus multipurpose platform is designed for 300 to 800 kg satellites in LEO and supports Earth observation, telecommunication, scientific and other applications. It is fitted to operate at altitudes between 300 and 2000 kilometers, from sun-synchronous to near-equatorial orbits.

Rapid II is a multiple award contract for core spacecraft systems and non-standard services. The services may include operations, components and studies to meet the government's space, Earth science and technology needs.

About Alcatel Alenia Space
Alcatel Alenia Space is the European leader in satellite systems and at the forefront of orbital 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%).