Advanced Television

Thales Alenia Space

SES unveils Astra 1P

A VIP group visited Thales Alenia Space’s satellite manufacturing facility near Cannes, in the south of France, to view SES Astra 1P, its latest satellite and which will be placed at the operator’s prime TV neighbourhood at 19.2 degrees East. The satellite will continue existing transmissions over Europe as well as key markets Germany, France […]

February 9, 2024

Mongolia buys satellite from Thales Alenia

Mongolia’s Ministry of Digital Development is buying a Ku-band broadband satellite from Thales Alenia Space. The new national satellite will be placed at 113.6 degrees East. The President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, undertook a state visit to France last week and used the visit to reach an agreement with Thales Alenia. The new craft will […]

October 16, 2023By Chris Forrester

IRIS2 Consortium named

The European Commission has rejected four smaller consortia for its IRIS2 low Earth orbiting constellation. It has selected a consortium made up of Airbus Defense & Space, Eutelsat, Hispasat, SES and Thales Alenia Space, backed also by Deutsche Telekom, OHB SE, Orange, Hisdesat, Telespazio and Thales Group. This major group will now fine tune its […]

June 16, 2023By Chris Forrester

Thales Alenia leads ESA Quantum sat-project

Thales Alenia Space has been awarded the lead contract to develop quantum technology-based satellites and their ground links. The development will mean much-improved cybersecurity benefits. Thales and its consortium members are looking to build satellites and matching optical ground stations by the end of 2026 to demonstrate the planned long-distance quantum satellite connectivity. The project […]

January 25, 2023By Chris Forrester

SES borrows €300m from EIB

Satellite operator SES has borrowed €300 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB). SES is currently in the middle of a considerable capital-intensive satellite building programme. The full terms of the loan are not revealed but are likely to be highly competitive and are reportedly for seven years. The cash will go towards the procurement […]

January 12, 2023

Intelsat orders launch contracts

Intelsat has confirmed its launch plans for its Intelsat IS-41 and IS-44 satellites. Intelsat will use an Ariane 6 rocket to launch the pair of satellites in 2025. Thales Alenia Space is building the satellites, which will have a combined weight of some 8,000 kgs. “We are honoured, yet again, by our faithful long-time partner […]

December 1, 2022By Chris Forrester

Eutelsat orders ‘Flexible’ satellite

Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat has ordered a flexible software-defined craft from Thales Alenia Space. Eutelsat says that this ‘New generation’ of high-throughput, software-defined satellite, allowing flexibility and instant reconfigurability, to adapt to changing missions. It will reinforce Eutelsat’s in-orbit assets to serve surging demand for Connectivity in the Americas. The Flexsat (for flexible satellite) will […]

December 1, 2022By Chris Forrester

Eutelsat Konnect launch rescheduled

The planned launch by Arianespace of the important Eutelsat Konnect VHTS satellite on September 6th was halted ahead of lift-off. High altitude winds were to blame. The Very High Throughput Satellite is claimed to be the most powerful craft to be orbited. A new launch time is expected on September 7th at 09.45 UTC. It […]

September 7, 2022By Chris Forrester

Thales Alenia working on water-based satellite fuel

Satellite technology company Thales Alenia Space is partnering Italy-based MIPRONS on an innovative propulsion system for satellites which uses water as a fuel. Based on MIPRONS’ proprietary technology, with the Italian patent being extended to 49 other countries, this miniaturized, high-thrust thruster will use a green, cost-effective propellant — water. An electrolysis process breaks down […]

July 28, 2022

Thales, QinetiQ back Very Low LEOs

Operating satellites at orbital heights of less than 300 kms is seen as a solution to reduce the cost of satellite launching and making affordable performance. Thales Alenia Space and the Belgian team of the UK’s QinetiQ are backing the development of so-called ‘skimsats’. The pair are working with the European Space Agency (ESA) and […]

July 22, 2022