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ESA selects Thales Alenia Space and OHB proposal for Third-Generation Meteosat satellites

19 March 2010

Cannes, March 19, 2010 – Thales Alenia Space has been chosen by the European Space Agency to enter into exclusive negotiations concerning the proposal for Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellites, on behalf of Eumetsat, the European meteorological satellite organisation. Thales Alenia Space France, as prime contractor, submitted a proposal in conjunction with German manufacturer OHB that satisfied all criteria set by ESA.

The Meteosat Third Generation programme comprises six satellites – four imaging satellites and two with atmospheric sounders. The imaging satellites will deliver one image every 10 minutes, and will operate in 16 bandwidths. The sounders will be used to determine temperature and humidity profiles in vertical atmospheric columns. MTG satellites also carry an ultraviolet sounder payload, developed within the scope of the GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) programme to analyse the constituent gases in the atmosphere. With its enhanced resolution, continuous observation and complementary imaging and sounder data, Meteosat Third Generation satellites will improve the accuracy in weather forecasts and models.

The MTG proposal was developed in close collaboration with OHB, and is a textbook case of French-German teamwork. It involves Thales Alenia Space’s Cannes and Toulouse plants, along with OHB’s plants in Bremen and Munich. This teaming arrangement enhances the value of investments by ESA and national governments in satellite platforms and instruments, by reusing the small GEO platform developed by ESA.

“ESA and Eumetsat have chosen Thales Alenia Space, in partnership with OHB of Germany, to develop the third generation of Meteosat weather satellites, thanks to the technical excellence and competitiveness of our proposal,” said Reynald Seznec, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “We are very proud of being chosen to meet the challenge of building the most ambitious geostationary satellites ever developed in Europe. This selection clearly confirms our expertise in space meteorology, as well as our commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges of climate change, environmental management and sustainable development.”

Thales Alenia Space has developed the full range of skills and expertise needed for space-based meteorology over the last 30 years. The company built all 11 first and second generation Meteosat satellites, and has logged extensive experience in managing industrial consortiums, developing expertise in optical imaging and atmospheric sounding, as well as in the construction of three-axis-stabilised platforms.

About Thales Alenia Space
European leader in satellite systems and a major player in orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%). Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio embody the two groups’ “Space Alliance”. Thales Alenia Space sets the global standard in solutions for space telecoms, radar and optical Earth observation, defense and security, navigation and science. The company, which achieved revenues of Euro 2 billion in 2008, has a total of 7,200 employees located in 11 industrial sites in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium.
www.thalesaleniaspace.com

Thales Alenia Space Press Contacts
Florence Pontieux - Tel: +33 (0)1 57 77 91 26
florence.pontieux@thalesaleniaspace.com

Sandrine Bielecki - Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94
sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com