Russia: Thales Alenia Space: launch AT1AT2 satellite
The communications satellites Express AT1 and AT2 were successfully launched from Baikonur with the Proton carrier; the French-led Finmeccanica/Thales joint venture produced the satellite payload for the primary contractor ISS Reshetnev at the request of Russia’s Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). The partnership between Russia and Thales Alenia Space was set up 20 years ago within the context of the SESAT programme. RSCC is an important Thales Alenia Space client, which produces the payloads for a large number of its satellites incorporated on Russian platforms. Thales Alenia Space with RSCC and ISS Reshetnev also recently set up a joint venture with Universum Space Technologies, which focuses on the production of equipment capable of satisfying the most recent international payload standards for national use. The joint venture, headquartered in Russia and whose majority partner is ISS, will allow the two partner firms to venture into new segments of both the Russian domestic and foreign markets.
(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor)
