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  • Thales-Finmeccanica JV Hands Orion Service Module Test Model to NASA - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    Thales-Finmeccanica JV Hands Orion Service Module Test Model to NASA

    A joint venture of Thales Group and Finmeccanica has delivered the test model of the Orion spacecraft’s European Service Module to NASA’s testing facility in Ohio for further structural design tests. Thales Alenia Space performed initial tests on the structural test model of ESM at its facility in Turin, Italy, prior to the shipment, Thales […] More

  • Thales-Finmeccanica JV to Build Orion Service Module's Thermomechanical Platforms - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    Thales-Finmeccanica JV to Build Orion Service Module’s Thermomechanical Platforms

    A joint venture of Thales Group and Finmeccanica has secured a potential $103 million contract from Airbus to build thermomechanical platforms for the Orion spacecraft’s European Service Module. Thales Alenia Space will supply thermal control, consumable storage components, micrometeoroid and structure protection systems for the space capsule’s ESM, Thales Group said Thursday. ESM will work to provide thermal control, […] More

  • Eduardo Bellido Joins Thales Alenia Space’s Spanish Subsidiary as CEO - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    Eduardo Bellido Joins Thales Alenia Space’s Spanish Subsidiary as CEO

    Eduardo Bellido, formerly director at Munich-based OHB System, has joined Thales Alenia Space Espana to replace Juan Garces de Marcilla as chief executive officer. He brings nearly two decades of experience in the aerospace sector to the Spanish subsidiary of Thales Alenia Space and will oversee the company’s strategic initiatives, industrial, finance and corporate development operations, Thales said […] More

  • Scott Smith: Iridium Completes NEXT Satellite Payload Integration - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    Scott Smith: Iridium Completes NEXT Satellite Payload Integration

    Iridium Communications has completed the integration of communication and surveillance payloads with the Iridium NEXT satellite. The company said Monday it will send the satellite with the integrated Aireon-hosted tracking payload for aircraft surveillance to Thales Alenia Space in Cannes, France for final qualification testing. The integrated module is part of the 66 low-Earth orbit satellites that will […] More

  • Scott Smith: Iridium NEXT Platform Software Completes Tests Ahead of Launch - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    Scott Smith: Iridium NEXT Platform Software Completes Tests Ahead of Launch

    Iridium Communications has completed the initial test phase on the primary functions of the Thales Alenia Space-developed Iridium NEXT platform software ahead of the first satellite launch this year. Iridium said Tuesday this testing phase is the first of a series of tests on the platform software’s systems integration and other functions to check Iridium NEXT’s operational autonomy. “Completion […] More

  • Iridium Caps Tests on New NEXT Satellite Solar Panel Design; Scott Smith Comments - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    Iridium Caps Tests on New NEXT Satellite Solar Panel Design; Scott Smith Comments

    Iridium Communications has completed a series qualification tests on a new design Spectrolab and Mitsubishi Electric developed for the solar panel arrays that will be fitted to the Iridium NEXT satellites. Iridium said Tuesday the design consists of four panels that span approximately 30 feet and generate at least 2 kilowatts of power via triple-junction solar cells. Scott Smith, Iridium chief operating […] More

  • Scott Smith: Iridium to Begin High-Volume Production of NEXT Antennas - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    Scott Smith: Iridium to Begin High-Volume Production of NEXT Antennas

    Iridium Communications is set to produce antennas for the NEXT constellation in large volumes following completion of the first five flight main mission antennas. Thales Alenia Space built the antennas to handle the transmission of data between Iridium customer devices, Iridium Communications said Monday. “The main mission antennas are a critical component of each satellite, and […] More

  • Scott Smith: Iridium NEXT Test Call Moves Launch Preparations Forward - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    Scott Smith: Iridium NEXT Test Call Moves Launch Preparations Forward

    Iridium Communications and Thales Alenia Space have completed a test call of the L-band hardware and associated software for the Iridium NEXT constellation, demonstrating end-to-end call flow through satellite, ground and public switched telephone networks. Iridium said Tuesday the milestone validates the Iridium NEXT system’s capabilities for satellite communications as the companies prepare for the first launch next year. “Placing […] More

  • Jean Loic Galle: Thales JV to Help Inmarsat, Hellas-Sat Build Joint Satcom Platform - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    Jean Loic Galle: Thales JV to Help Inmarsat, Hellas-Sat Build Joint Satcom Platform

    A joint venture of Thales Group and Finmeccanica has secured a contract to design and develop a satellite platform that will work to deliver mobile and broadcasting services across multiple spectrum networks. Thales Alenia Space will build a dual-mission telecommunications satellite for Inmarsat and Greek satcom operator Hellas-Sat, Thales Group said Thursday. Under the agreement, […] More

  • Orbital Starts to Integrate Iridium NEXT Satellites; Scott Smith Comments - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    Orbital Starts to Integrate Iridium NEXT Satellites; Scott Smith Comments

    Orbital Sciences has begun to integrate payloads for Iridium Communications‘ NEXT satellite constellation at an Orbital-run facility in Gilbert, Az. Orbital is responsible for assembling and testing NEXT low-earth-orbit satellites under an agreement signed with Thales Alenia Space, the project’s prime contractor, Orbital said Thursday. Under that contract, Orbital will deliver 66 satellite platforms, nine […] More

  • SpaceX to Test Thales-Built Simulators for Iridium NEXT Satellites; Scott Smith Comments - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    SpaceX to Test Thales-Built Simulators for Iridium NEXT Satellites; Scott Smith Comments

    Thales Alenia Space has developed simulation systems that will be used by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. in the testing phase of communications satellites for Iridium Communications‘ next-generation constellation. SpaceX was chosen to help launch Iridium NEXT satellites into space with a Falcon9 rocket under a $453.1 million contract between both companies, Iridium said Tuesday. “With […] More

  • Thales Alenia Space Inks Deal to Build Russian Company's Comm Satellite - top government contractors - best government contracting event
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    Thales Alenia Space Inks Deal to Build Russian Company’s Comm Satellite

    Thales Alenia Space, the space systems division of Thales Group, has won a contract to build a telecommunications satellite for Russian operator Gazprom Space Systems. Construction of the Yamal-601 could take 26 months and the satellite will be launched by the International Launch Service aboard a Proton rocket, Thales announced Wednesday. Under the contract, Thales will be […] More