Thales Alenia Space

It provides space-based systems, including satellites and ground segments, used for telecommunications, navigation, earth observation, space exploration and scientific purposes.

[7] On 10 April 2007, the European Union, which had performed an in-depth investigation into the proposed transaction over its potential impact on market competition, gave its approval for the transference to proceed.

These satellites range in purpose, from telecommunications to navigation, Earth observation and space exploration, including science and orbital infrastructures.

[19] A major proportion of Thales Alenia Space's business is centered around the production of communications satellites, in which it is a world leader.

[15][22] The company constructed the Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules, which were used to transport cargo inside the Space Shuttle orbiters.

[5] After the American aerospace corporation Boeing, Thales Alenia Space was the second largest industrial provider to the ISS.

[5] During the 2010s, Thales Alenia Space manufactured the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV),[23] a prototype suborbital spaceplane intended to validate work towards reusable launcher systems, acting as a stepping stone towards the Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIDE program) and the consequential Space Rider that harnesses IPX technology.

[27] The company will also be a key European partner onboard NASA's Artemis, aiming to bring physically astronauts back to the Moon in 2025.

Its mission is to provide fiber-like high speed Internet over Europe, especially in isolated areas, called white zones.

These new satellites will be used to measure the atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2)[44] produced by human activity, monitor sea ice thickness and overlying snow depth, provide improved services for sustainable agriculture and biodiversity management, observe ocean behavior, and support precision agriculture and food security.

[47] In the defense sector, a number of countries have chosen Thales Alenia Space for their military or dual telecommunications systems, providing front-line support for their armed forces in any theater of operations.

In the market for space-based surveillance systems, Thales Alenia Space offers high and very-high resolution optical and radar payloads.

[51] The company is also the industrial prime contractor for the two generations of COSMO-SkyMed radar satellites for the Italian space agency and defense ministry.

[52] In 2021, Thales Alenia Space had 8,000 employees operating in 17 industrial sites located in nine European countries (France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Luxembourg): Current CEO is Hervé Derrey since February 2020, replacing Jean-Loïc Galle.