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Turin, September 17, 2015 Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with Airbus Defence and
Space, prime contractor for US space capsule Orion service module, to develop and produce the
thermomechanical systems for the European Service Module (ESM) on the Orion spacecraft.
Orion is NASA's new human transportation vehicle for deep space exploration. The Orion service
module will be developed under ESA contract and will provide propulsion, power supply, thermal
control and main life support capabilities for the American spacecraft.
The contract signed today by Thales Alenia Space is worth approximately 90 million euros. Thales
Alenia Space, a core team member along with Airbus Defence and Space, will develop and supply
critical service module systems for the first flight unit, including structure & micrometeoroid
protection, thermal control and consumable storage and distribution.
Orion is designed for manned missions beyond low Earth orbit (LEO), with possible destinations
including the Moon, asteroids and deep space. The first Orion mission with European participation,
Exploration Mission 1, is planned for 2018 and will entail a circumnavigation of the Moon and
return to Earth. The aim of this unmanned mission is to demonstrate the spacecrafts performance
capabilities before undertaking manned missions, and also to qualify NASAs new Space Launch
System. The subsequent Exploration Mission 2, slated no later than 2021, will send Orion into
space with astronauts on board.
This contract marks a significant step forward for Thales Alenia Space," said Donato Amoroso,
Deputy CEO of Thales Alenia Space. "It also reflects our company's long-standing expertise in
human spaceflight. Through the new Orion program, Thales Alenia Space is proud to play a role in
extending human presence beyond LEO and contributing to the exciting field of deep space
exploration.
sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com
chrystelle.dugimont@thalesaleniaspace.com
tiziana.ebano@thalesaleniaspace.com