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GIOVE-B, the second Galileo experimental satellite to be launched on April 27

24 April 2008

Cannes, April 24, 2008 - GIOVE-B, the second experimental satellite part of the Galileo constellation, is ready to begin its journey from the spaceport of Baikonur, in Kazakhstan. The satellite is schedule for launch by a Starsem Soyuz/Fregat launch vehicle at 00:16:02 CEST (22:16 UTC on April 26, 04:16:02 local time on April 27).

GIOVE-B (Galileo In Orbit Validation Element) will verify the most critical technologies of the European satellite navigation system Galileo. More specifically, GIOVE-B will test in orbit the functionality of the atomic clock that represents one of the most important innovations of the system.

Thales Alenia Space's subsidiaries in Italy, Spain, Belgium and France contributed to this satellite, as subcontractor to the satellite prime Astrium in Munich:

* Assembling phases of the satellite as well as operational platform and system tests (Italy).
* Environmental (vibration, shock, and mass properties) and thermo-vacuum tests (Italy).
* Launch campaign (Italy)
* Harness Subsystem and Telemetry & Telecommand Subsystem (TT&C) (Italy)
* Structure Mechanical and Thermal design and production, using the Proteus platform heritage (France)
* Power subsystem and high efficiency Solar Arrays (France)
* Avionics specification and support (France)
* Development and supply of the Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) and the Clock Monitoring Control Unit (CMCU) (Spain)
* Provision of the Power Distribution Unit (PDU), the Power Conditioning Electronics (PCE), as well as the electrical test benches and ground support equipment (EGSE) (Belgium)
* Engineering support to the integrated satellite prime team of Astrium in Munich and Assembly Integration and Tests (AIT) in Rome
* Prime contractor of the GIOVE ground mission segment managing both GIOVE-A and GIOVE-B satellites (France)

Sergio Greco, SVP Navigation & Integrated Communications activities, Thales Alenia Space, said: "The encouraging results yielded by GIOVE-B are an important milestone that confirms the involvement of Europe in reaching an independent and leading role in satellite navigation systems. It further demonstrates that the space industry, and specifically Thales Alenia Space, is ready to take on this crucial challenge."

Thales Alenia Space played a key role in the development of Galileo. From 2000 to 2003, the company coordinated an international study team for the designed of the overall system architecture on behalf of the European Union, and an integrated industrial consortium for the definition study of the satellite system, on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). Thales Alenia Space is also the industrial prime contractor for EGNOS, the precursor of Galileo, leading a team of 50 partners in 11 European countries.

Thales Alenia Space is not only behind the EGNOS concepts and initial system, frequency and signal studies, but also the prime contractor of the Galileo ground mission segment, which builds the performance for the end users. The company also participates in the 4 Galileo IOV (In Orbit Validation) satellites construction, including strategic and complex parts such as the signal generators and security modules, thermal and mechanical structure, power subsystem and is responsible of the assembly, integration and test (AIT) of the full satellites in its Rome facility as well as their launch campaigns.

Thales Alenia Space has also supplied the signal generator and the navigation antenna for the first test satellite, GIOVE-A, launched on December 28, 2005. GIOVE-A has been designed to secure the frequencies allotted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

About Thales Alenia Space
European leader in satellite systems and at the forefront of orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%). Together with Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space forms the "Space Alliance" between the two groups. The company is a worldwide reference in telecoms, radar and optical Earth observation, defense and security, navigation and science. With 7200 employees and 11 industrial sites, Thales Alenia Space is located in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium. www.thalesaleniaspace.com