EADS Astrium
Encyclopedia
Astrium Satellites is one of the three business units of Astrium, a subsidiary of EADS
. It is a European space manufacturer involved in the manufacture of spacecraft
used for science, Earth
observation and telecommunication, as well as the equipment and subsystems used therein and related ground systems.
EADS Astrium Satellites employs around 8, 348 people on nine sites in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain. As of 11 June 2007, the CEO of Astrium is Evert Dudok
who took over from Antoine Bouvier who became CEO of EADS subsidiary MBDA
.
(France, UK) the space division of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG
and Computadores Redes e Ingenería SA
. Hence Astrium was a joint EADS/BAE Systems venture.
On 16 June 2003 the minority shareholder, BAE Systems
, sold its 25% share to European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company
, making EADS sole shareholder. Astrium became EADS Astrium Satellites and in a wider restructuring of EADS became the major constituent of EADS Astrium
, which also includes EADS Astrium Space Transportation and EADS Astrium Services
.
In this restructuring the former Astrium Space Infrastructure division merged with EADS Launchers & Vehicles division to form EADS SPACE Transportation, which became later EADS Astrium Space Transportation. Also, Paradigm Secure Communications Ltd, initially created by Astrium in the frame of the Skynet 5 contract for the UK Ministry of Defence
became the major constituent of EADS SPACE Services.
CASA Espacio became part of EADS Astrium on 1 January 2004. EADS Astrium is the sole shareholder of Infoterra Ltd
.
On 1 July 2006, the French subsidiary of EADS Astrium, EADS Astrium SAS, merged with other French subsidiaries of EADS Space (especially EADS Space Transportation). The name of the new company is Astrium SAS. Equivalent mergers have been achieved in 2006 in the other countries. Nevertheless, the EADS group does not communicate about these mergers, excepted when required by the law (contractual documents).
EADS
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
. It is a European space manufacturer involved in the manufacture of spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
used for science, Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
observation and telecommunication, as well as the equipment and subsystems used therein and related ground systems.
EADS Astrium Satellites employs around 8, 348 people on nine sites in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain. As of 11 June 2007, the CEO of Astrium is Evert Dudok
Evert Dudok
Evert Dudok has been the President of EADS Astrium Satellites since June 2007. Prior to this date he was president of EADS Astrium Space Transportation since June 2005...
who took over from Antoine Bouvier who became CEO of EADS subsidiary MBDA
MBDA
MBDA is a missile developer and manufacturer with operations in France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. It was formed by a merger of Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles , Finmeccanica and Matra BAe Dynamics in December 2001. In 2003 the company had 10,000 employees...
.
Company history
Astrium was formed in 2000 from a merger between Matra Marconi SpaceMatra Marconi Space
Matra Marconi Space was a Franco-British aerospace company.-History:Matra Marconi Space was established in 1990 as a joint venture between the space and telecommunication divisions of the Lagardère Group and the GEC group .The merged company was announced in December 1989 and was owned 51% by...
(France, UK) the space division of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG
DASA
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG, or DASA, was the former aerospace subsidiary of Daimler-Benz AG from 1989...
and Computadores Redes e Ingenería SA
CRISA
Computadores, Redes e Ingeniería, S.A. is a Spanish company founded in 1985 to develop and manufacture electronics and software products for aerospace applications.In 2000, CRISA became part of the EADS Astrium group....
. Hence Astrium was a joint EADS/BAE Systems venture.
On 16 June 2003 the minority shareholder, BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, sold its 25% share to European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company
EADS
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
, making EADS sole shareholder. Astrium became EADS Astrium Satellites and in a wider restructuring of EADS became the major constituent of EADS Astrium
EADS Astrium
Astrium Satellites is one of the three business units of Astrium, a subsidiary of EADS. It is a European space manufacturer involved in the manufacture of spacecraft used for science, Earth observation and telecommunication, as well as the equipment and subsystems used therein and related ground...
, which also includes EADS Astrium Space Transportation and EADS Astrium Services
EADS Astrium Services
Astrium Services is the services division of EADS Astrium.The services division specializes in military satellite communications services. Currently 2,200 employees work in this Business Division....
.
In this restructuring the former Astrium Space Infrastructure division merged with EADS Launchers & Vehicles division to form EADS SPACE Transportation, which became later EADS Astrium Space Transportation. Also, Paradigm Secure Communications Ltd, initially created by Astrium in the frame of the Skynet 5 contract for the UK Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
became the major constituent of EADS SPACE Services.
CASA Espacio became part of EADS Astrium on 1 January 2004. EADS Astrium is the sole shareholder of Infoterra Ltd
Infoterra Ltd
Infoterra is a provider of geospatial products and services. They support applications such as flood risk analysis, network planning, humanitarian relief and geological mapping.One of Infoterra’s main areas of expertise is data acquisition and processing...
.
On 1 July 2006, the French subsidiary of EADS Astrium, EADS Astrium SAS, merged with other French subsidiaries of EADS Space (especially EADS Space Transportation). The name of the new company is Astrium SAS. Equivalent mergers have been achieved in 2006 in the other countries. Nevertheless, the EADS group does not communicate about these mergers, excepted when required by the law (contractual documents).
Telecoms
- AlphabusAlphabusAlphabus is the name given to a family of heavy geostationary communications satellites.Alphabus is developed by a joint venture between Thales Alenia Space and EADS Astrium Satellites in France, with support of the Centre national d'études spatiales , the french space agency and the European Space...
- Alphasat I-XLAlphabusAlphabus is the name given to a family of heavy geostationary communications satellites.Alphabus is developed by a joint venture between Thales Alenia Space and EADS Astrium Satellites in France, with support of the Centre national d'études spatiales , the french space agency and the European Space...
- Amazonas 1 & 2
- Anik F1R & F3
- Arabsat 4A, 4B, 5A & 5C & BADR-4, 5, 6 & 7
- AstraSES AstraAstra is the name for the geostationary communication satellites, both individually and as a group, which are owned and operated by SES S.A., a global satellite operator based in Betzdorf, in eastern Luxembourg. The name is sometimes also used to describe the channels broadcasting from these...
2BAstra 2BAstra 2B is a communications satellite owned and operated by SES Astra, launched in 2000 to join Astra 2A at the Astra 28.2°E orbital slot providing digital television and radio broadcast services to the UK and Republic of Ireland....
, 2E, 2F, 2G, 1M, 1N, 3B & 5B. - Eutelsat Atlantic BirdAtlantic BirdAtlantic Bird is the name for a set of satellites operated by Eutelsat operating over the Atlantic Ocean.Two of the original three satellites replaced the France Telecom Telecom 2 series satellites which Eutelsat had acquired in 1999....
7 - EutelsatEutelsatEutelsat S.A. is a French-based satellite provider. Providing coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, it is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues.Eutelsat’s satellites...
W1 - Eutelsat W2M
- Eutelsat W3A
- Eutelsat 3B
- Eutelsat MEA-SAT 3B
- Hellas-Sat
- Hispasat 1A and 1B
- HYLAS
- EutelsatEutelsatEutelsat S.A. is a French-based satellite provider. Providing coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, it is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues.Eutelsat’s satellites...
Hot BirdHot BirdHot Bird is the name of a popular family of satellites operated by Eutelsat, located at 13°E over the Equator and with a transmitting footprint over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East....
2-5 - Eutelsat Hot Bird 7-10
- Eutelsat Ka-SatKA-SATKA-SAT is a telecommunications satellite owned by Eutelsat. The satellite will provide broadband Internet access services across Europe and also a small area of the Middle East. It is positioned at 9°E, joining Eurobird 9A Ku band satellite. KA-SAT was manufactured by EADS Astrium, based on the...
- Express AM4
- InmarsatInmarsatInmarsat plc is a British satellite telecommunications company, offering global, mobile services. It provides telephony and data services to users worldwide, via portable or mobile terminals which communicate to ground stations through eleven geostationary telecommunications satellites...
2 F1, F2, F3 & F4 - InmarsatInmarsatInmarsat plc is a British satellite telecommunications company, offering global, mobile services. It provides telephony and data services to users worldwide, via portable or mobile terminals which communicate to ground stations through eleven geostationary telecommunications satellites...
4 F1, F2 & F3 - IntelsatIntelsatIntelsat, Ltd. is a communications satellite services provider.Originally formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization , it was—from 1964 to 2001—an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites providing international broadcast...
10-02 - Nilesat 101 and 102
- Nimiq 4
- Orion-1
- ST-1
- Stentor
- Telecom 2
- WorldStar (Afristar, Asiastar, Worldstar 3)
- Yahsat 1A & 1B
Military
- CSO (forthcoming]
- EssaimEssaim (satellites)Essaim is a French military reconnaissance microsatellite constellation. Its main purpose is to collect and map signals intelligence across the world. The DGA describes it as a "vacuum cleaner for [radio] waves".- Description :...
- Helios 1BHelios 1BThe Hélios 1B was a French military photo-reconnaissance satellite in which Italy and Spain also participated. It was launched from the Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana on 3 December 1999 at 16:22:00 UTC. The spacecraft rode aboard an Ariane 40 rocket which also carried the French military...
- Helios 2AHelios 2AThe Helios 2 system includes Helios 2A and Helios 2B, both of which are european military observation satellites used by France, Belgium, Spain . Helios 2A was launched on December 18, 2004 by an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana. Helios 2B was launched five years later on December 18, 2009,...
- Manpack
- Master
- Scot
- Skynet 4/NATO IV
- Skynet 5
- SATCOM BW2
- Spirale 1A/1B
Earth observation
- ADM-aeolus
- Alsat
- Champ
- COMS
- CryoSatCryoSatCryoSat is an ESA programme which will monitor variations in the extent and thickness of polar ice through use of a satellite in low Earth orbit. The information provided about the behaviour of coastal glaciers that drain thinning ice sheets will be key to better predictions of future sea-level rise...
- ERSEuropean Remote-Sensing SatelliteEuropean remote sensing satellite was the European Space Agency's first Earth-observing satellite. It was launched on July 17, 1991 into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit at a height of 782–785 km.-Instruments:...
1 & 2 - EnvisatEnvisatEnvisat is an Earth-observing satellite. It was launched on 1 March 2002 aboard an Ariane 5 from the Guyana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guyana into a Sun synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of...
- GOCEGravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation ExplorerThe Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer is an ESA satellite that was launched on March 17, 2009. It is a satellite carrying a highly sensitive gravity gradiometer which detects fine density differences in the crust and oceans of the Earth.GOCE data will have many uses,...
- GraceGravity Recovery and Climate ExperimentThe Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment , a joint mission of NASA and the German Space Agency, has been making detailed measurements of Earth's gravity field since its launch in March 2002....
- Kompsat-2
- KRS [forthcoming, launch forecast 2014]
- MSG
- MeteosatMeteosatThe Meteosat series of satellites are geostationary meteorological satellites operated by EUMETSAT under the Meteosat Transition Programme and the Meteosat Second Generation program....
- Metop 1, 2, 3
- MicroSAR
- Pleïades
- FORMOSAT-2FORMOSAT-2FORMOSAT-2 is an Earth observation satellite operated by the National Space Organization of the Republic of China . It is a high-resolution photographic surveillance satellite with a daily revisit capability. Images are commercially available from Spot Image.- Launch :FORMOSAT-2 was launched...
(ROCSAT-2) - Sentinel-2
- Silex
- SPOTSPOT (satellites)SPOT is a high-resolution, optical imaging Earth observation satellite system operating from space. It is run by Spot Image based in Toulouse, France...
1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 - SSOT
- Theos
- TerraSAR-XTerraSAR-XTerraSAR-X, a German Earth observation satellite, is a joint venture being carried out under a public-private-partnership between the German Aerospace Center DLR and EADS Astrium GmbH; the exclusive commercial exploitation rights are held by the geo-information service provider Infoterra GmbH....
, TanDEM-XTanDEM-XTanDEM-X is the name of TerraSAR-X's twin satellite, a German Earth observation satellite using SAR - a modern radar imaging technology. It is a second, almost identical spacecraft to TerraSAR-X... - VNREDSat-1 (forthcoming)
Science
- BepiColomboBepiColomboBepiColombo is a joint mission of the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to the planet Mercury, due to launch in 2014. The mission is still in the planning stages so changes to the current description are likely over the next few years...
- Cassini-HuygensCassini-HuygensCassini–Huygens is a joint NASA/ESA/ASI spacecraft mission studying the planet Saturn and its many natural satellites since 2004. Launched in 1997 after nearly two decades of gestation, it includes a Saturn orbiter and an atmospheric probe/lander for the moon Titan, although it has also returned...
- Cluster IICluster missionCluster II is a space mission of the European Space Agency, with NASA participation, to study the Earth's magnetosphere over the course of an entire solar cycle. The mission is composed of four identical spacecraft flying in a tetrahedral formation...
- Gaia mission
- Herschel Space ObservatoryHerschel Space ObservatoryThe Herschel Space Observatory is a European Space Agency space observatory sensitive to the far infrared and submillimetre wavebands. It is the largest space telescope ever launched, carrying a single mirror of in diameter....
- INTEGRALINTEGRALThe European Space Agency's INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory is an operational Earth satellite, launched in 2002 for detecting some of the most energetic radiation that comes from space. It is the most sensitive gamma ray observatory ever launched.INTEGRAL is an ESA mission in...
- LISA PathfinderLISA PathfinderLISA Pathfinder is the revised name for SMART-2, a NASA/ESA space probe to be launched in June 2013. SMART stands for Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology. The aim of the LISA Pathfinder is to test technologies needed for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, a joint NASA/ESA...
- Mars ExpressMars ExpressMars Express is a space exploration mission being conducted by the European Space Agency . The Mars Express mission is exploring the planet Mars, and is the first planetary mission attempted by the agency. "Express" originally referred to the speed and efficiency with which the spacecraft was...
/ Beagle 2Beagle 2Beagle 2 was an unsuccessful British landing spacecraft that formed part of the European Space Agency's 2003 Mars Express mission. All contact with it was lost upon its separation from the Mars Express six days before its scheduled entry into the atmosphere... - Rosetta
- Solar and Heliospheric ObservatorySolar and Heliospheric ObservatoryThe Solar and Heliospheric Observatory is a spacecraft built by a European industrial consortium led by Matra Marconi Space that was launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS launch vehicle on December 2, 1995 to study the Sun, and has discovered over 2100 comets. It began normal operations in May...
(SOHO) - UlyssesUlysses probeUlysses is a decommissioned robotic space probe that was designed to study the Sun as a joint venture of NASA and the European Space Agency . The spacecraft was originally named Odysseus, because of its lengthy and indirect trajectory to near Solar distance...
- Venus ExpressVenus ExpressVenus Express is the first Venus exploration mission of the European Space Agency. Launched in November 2005, it arrived at Venus in April 2006 and has been continuously sending back science data from its polar orbit around Venus. Equipped with seven science instruments, the main objective of the...
- XMM-NewtonXMM-NewtonThe XMM-Newton is an orbiting X-ray observatory launched by ESA in December 1999 on a Ariane 5 rocket...
- NIRSpec
Navigation
- European Geostationary Navigation Overlay ServiceEuropean Geostationary Navigation Overlay ServiceThe European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service is a satellite based augmentation system developed by the European Space Agency, the European Commission and EUROCONTROL. It supplements the GPS, GLONASS and Galileo systems by reporting on the reliability and accuracy of the signals...
(EGNOS) - GalileoGalileo positioning systemGalileo is a global navigation satellite system currently being built by the European Union and European Space Agency . The €20 billion project is named after the famous Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei...