Artist impression of a Galileo satellite Photo: OHB-System AG

January 7, 2010 – Vice-President Antonio Tajani today announced that the European Commission has selected the consortium led by OHB-System AG and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) for building and testing 14 satellites for the Galileo satellite navigation system, a programme of and funded by the European Union.

	Antonio Tajani Photo: PAP

This selection is a major milestone for the European Commission, assisted by the European Space Agency, which initiated the tendering process for these satellites in September 2008.

Berry Smutny, CEO of OHB-System AG, stated upon learning of the decision
“We are very pleased and honoured with the Commission’s decision. Galileo is one of the EU’s most important infrastructure programmes entering now the decisive implementation phase. We will simply start and do our industrial job; this is a big success for Bremen. We are very proud to serve this programme along the road towards the creation of Europe’s own satellite navigation system“.

Dr Matt Perkins SSTL’s Group CEO added
“Through the GIOVE programme, SSTL has demonstrated that it has the ability to play a major role in Galileo. We are very pleased that the OHB-SSTL team has been selected for part of the full operational system”.

Berry Smutny, Chief Executive Officer, OHB-System AG. Born 1961, Physician. Member of the Management Board since 2009. Photo: OHB-System AG

As a result of this decision, OHB-System will be assuming the role of prime contractor for the fabrication of the 14 satellites, including full responsibility for developing the satellite platform and overall integration of the satellites.
SSTL will build and integrate the navigation payloads and support OHB with the final integration.
The 14 satellites will be assembled in Bremen.

Photo: OHB-System AG

“The award of this contract to our team reflects the European faith in fair competition and shows that the EC and ESA consider us to be a highly trustworthy satellite supplier with leading-edge technology,” Smutny added.
“We wish to thank both institutions for the professional and fair bidding process and for the constructive dialogue. We will now be devoting all our resources to implementing our part of the programme to the customer’s complete satisfaction and creating new and sustainable employment.”

Photo: OHB-System AG

In the construction of the satellites, both partners will be able to harvest the many years of experience which they have amassed.
Not least of all, OHB-System successfully built and launched the German SAR-Lupe radar reconnaissance system, a constellation of five satellites, on time and within budget.

SSTL was responsible for the successful construction and testing of the first Galileo satellite, GIOVE-A and the building and integration of the RapidEye constellation of five spacecraft.

Photo: OHB-System AG

Perkins commented
“Having been responsible for GIOVE-A, the first Galileo satellite, which is still in orbit and operational two years beyond its nominal life, we are delighted that the EC and ESA have decided to make the best use of SSTL’s and OHB’s experience in integrating constellations of spacecraft”.

The European Commission divided the invitation for proposals for the entire system into six segments.
OHB and SSTL jointly submitted bids for the “satellite” segment, i.e. the development, construction and testing of up to 28 satellites, procured on the basis of mini-competitions between the bidders which have been awarded so-called Multi-Supplier Framework Contracts.

The award above concerns a first Work Order of 14 satellites with mini-competitions for other Work Orders to follow at later stages.
The other segments for which bids were requested are “System support”, “Ground mission system”, “Ground control system”, “Operations” and “Launchers”.


OHB contact for media representatives:

Steffen Leuthold
Corporate Communications
Phone: +49 421 - 2020-620
Fax: +49 421 - 2020-700
E-Mail: leuthold@ohb-system.de


OHB contact for investors and analysts:

Michael Vér
Investor Relations
Phone: +49 421 - 2020-727
Fax: +49 421 - 2020-613
E-Mail: ver@ohb-technology.de


SSTL contact:

Joelle Sykes
Corporate Communications
Tel.: +44 (0)1483 804243
E-Mail: j.sykes@sstl.co.uk
www.sstl.co.uk

Robin Wolstenholme
PR Manager, bcm
Tel.: +44 (0)1306 882288
E-Mail: r.wolstenholme@ballard.co.uk
www.ballard.co.uk


http://www.ohb-technology.de/press-releases-details/items/ohb-and-sstl-selected-for-the-construction-of-14-galileo-navigation-satellites.html  

http://www.ohb-system.de/archive-2009-details/items/ohb-and-sstl-selected-for-the-construction-of-14-galileo-navigation-satellites.html  

http://www.sstl.co.uk/News_and_Events/Latest_News/?story=1513  



About OHB-System AG


OHB-System AG is a mid-size German systems provider belonging to the European space and technology group OHB Technology AG (Prime Standard, ISIN: DE0005936124).

The Group currently employs over 1,500 people in its Space Systems + Security, Payloads + Science, Space Travel International, Space Transportation + Aerospace Structures and Telematics + Satellite Operations business units.

Within this array, OHB-System AG specializes in Space Systems + Security.
Its headquarters at the Bremen Technology Park are home to around 250 highly qualified scientists and engineers.
The business unit generated total revenues of around EUR 60 million in 2008.

Photo: OHB-System AG

OHB-System AG develops low-orbiting and geostationary small satellites for scientific research, communications and earth observation. Its manned space flight activities include the participation in the assembly and outfitting of the International Space Station ISS, the Columbus research laboratory and the ATV automatic transfer vehicle.
The exploration segment works on studies and models for studying our solar system, primarily the Moon and Mars.
Reconnaissance satellites and broadband wireless transmission of image data form core technologies for security and reconnaissance.

OHB-System traditionally works with leading national and international companies to pool the competence required for specific projects.
By working in syndicates and partnership ventures, OHB-System is able to assert itself successfully time and time again when competing for large-scale projects.

OHB-System AG is one of the leading independent forces in the European aerospace sector. It is a sought-after partner for the European Space Agency ESA and the German Aerospace Center DLR as well as for customers in the private and public sector.

http://www.ohb-system.de/corporate-in-brief.html  


About OHB Technology AG


OHB Technology AG - The European company for Space Technology & Security, Telematics and Satellite Services.

Domiciled in Bremen, OHB Technology AG (ISIN: DE0005936124, Prime Standard) is Germany’s first listed space technology company.

With over 25 years of experience in high technology together with its integrated skills in the areas of aviation, aerospace and telematics, the Group is ideally positioned in Europe.

Production of Ariane 5 components at MT Aerospace in Augsburg: (from left) Josef Apolloner and Andreas Nashold Photo: OHB-System AG

Its four business units “Space Systems + Security”, “Payloads + Science”, “Space Transportation + Aerospace Structures” and “Telematics + Satellite Operations” offer international customers sophisticated solutions and systems.

Total consolidated revenues came to EUR 223.3 million in 2007 on sales of EUR 218.8 million.

Final assembly of one of the most user-friendly telematics systems in the European commercial vehicle market, Kay Antorski, OHB Teledata GmbH Photo: OHB-System AG

Since the stock market flotation in 2001 and the integration of the Space Systems business unit in the OHB Group in 2002 as well as the acquisition of MT Aerospace AG in 2005 and Kayser-Threde GmbH in 2007, total revenues have risen from EUR 15.0 million (2001) to EUR 223.3 million.

OHB Technology AG currently has around 1,300 employees.


Contact:

OHB Technology AG
Corporate Communications
Karl-Ferdinand-Braun-Str. 8
Bremen, Germany
phone +49 (0) 421-2020 620
fax +49 (0) 421-2020 9898
Email pr@ohb-technology.de

http://www.ohb-technology.de/corporate-in-brief.html  



About Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL)


Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) has been sending small satellites into space longer, more successfully and more economically than anyone else in the world.

We have built our reputation as the world’s premier provider of small satellite missions over 28 years.
We launched our first satellite in partnership with NASA in 1981.
Since then our global business has reached across five continents.
We have launched 34 satellites - more than anyone else in the small satellite industry.

We specialise in designing, building and launching small satellites quickly and cost-effectively, making space accessible and affordable.

Changing the economics of space

We first changed the economics of space in the late 1970s when we pioneered ‘commercial off the shelf’ (COTS) satellite technology.
This process took standard consumer technology, such as those used in personal computers, and adapted them to the unique environment of space.
Until then, satellite equipment was purpose-built for space travel, at huge expense and taking many years, with the result that the technology was obsolete by the time of launch.

Our capability

We can build and launch a satellite for any payload under 1,000 kilograms.
Every SSTL customer will be offered a spacecraft solution designed for their needs. In fact, we believe that we are at our best when given the flexibility to advise customers on a complete solution.
Whilst we mostly supply both the satellite and payload for our customers, we also undertake to integrate a customer supplied payload within an SSTL-built platform.

SSTL Laboratory Photo Credit: SSTL

Our customers have used our expert knowledge and in-house capabilities to produce satellites for:

• Earth observation and imaging

• Securing the Galileo satellite navigation frequencies

• Scientific research

• Military/defence purposes

• Technology demonstration (testing an instrument in space)

With the acquisition of SIRA Electro-Optics in 2006, SSTL's in-house optical engineers are producing some of the world’s most sophisticated cameras and visual technology for customers’ satellites.

The complete satellite lifecycle

We can develop satellites throughout their life cycle – from design and build through to launch and in-orbit monitoring and maintenance – or any stage of that cycle.

GIOVE-A in orbit Photo Credit: SSTL

For customers who want to monitor and maintain their own satellites, we set up their ground station and train their in-house team.

We are able to offer our customers such flexibility because we design, build, assemble and test our satellites and almost all their components in-house.


http://www.sstl.co.uk/About_SSTL  



About Arianespace


Arianespace was founded in 1980 as the world’s first launch Service & Solutions company.

It now has 23 shareholders from 10 European countries (including the French space agency CNES with 34%, EADS Astrium with 30% and all European companies participating in the production of Ariane 5 launchers).
Since its creation, Arianespace has signed contracts with 73 customers and launched 277 payloads, accounting for more than half of the commercial satellites now in service.

In 2009, the company’s sales should total 1.046 billion euros.

As of January 1, 2010, Arianespace had 323 employees, including 253 at the company’s headquarters in Evry, near Paris, France; 59 at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, launch site for Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega; and 11 at international offices in Washington, D.C., Tokyo and Singapore.

Operations

Arianespace offers launch Service & Solutions to satellite operators from around the world, both private companies and government agencies.

Photo: Arianespace

The Arianespace family of launchers comprises:
Ariane 5 heavy-lift launch vehicle, operated at the Guiana Space Center (49 launches, including 35 successful launches in a row, as of January 2010).
Soyuz medium launcher, which has been operated at Baikonur, Kazakhstan, since 1999 (21 commercial launches, all successful), and will be launched at the Guiana Space Center starting in 2010.
Vega light launcher, to be operated at the Guiana Space Center starting in 2010.

In 2009, Arianespace performed seven Ariane 5 launches (all successful) and continued to prepare the first Vega and Soyuz launches from the Guiana Space Center.

Launch services leadership

Capitalizing on its range of launchers, proven reliability and availability, Arianespace has won more than half of the commercial launch contracts open to competition worldwide in the last two years.
This gives it a very healthy order book, with the following coming from 28 customers (as of October 30, 2009):
29 satellites to be launched into geostationary transfer orbit, using Ariane 5 or Soyuz for the smaller spacecraft (11 new contracts signed in 2009).
Six government launches by Ariane 5 with the ATV cargo vessel.
12 dedicated Soyuz launches (five new contracts signed in 2009).

Photo: Arianespace

Arianespace will continue its steady launch rate in 2010, with six or seven Ariane 5 launches planned, along with the first Soyuz and Vega launches from the Guiana Space Center.

The technical performances of its launchers and a substantial order book have made Arianespace the world leader in satellite launch services for the last several years.


http://www.arianespace.com/about-us/service-solutions.asp  




Jean-Yves Le Gall
Chairman & CEO of Arianespace

Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman & CEO of Arianespace Photo: Arianespace

Jean-Yves Le Gall is Chairman & CEO of Arianespace, the world’s leading launch Service & Solutions company.

His main mission is to define the company’s commercial strategy, and to develop and maintain a close relationship with its international clientele.
As part of his job, he represents Arianespace in relations with European governments, space agencies, industrial partners, and shareholders in the company.

Le Gall is also Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Starsem, the company’s European-Russian subsidiary in charge of operating and marketing the Soyuz launch vehicle.

Le Gall has devoted his entire career to the European space program.
He has held a number of management positions concerning both programs and strategy with several organizations, including the French Ministry of Industry, Novespace, French space agency CNES, Starsem and Arianespace, which he joined in 2001.

He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and he received the Astronautics Prize from the French Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AAAF) in 2001.

He was recognized by the magazine Via Satellite as its 2005 Satellite Executive of the Year, and received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 from the Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council.

He is now Chairman of the Industry Relations Committee of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and Co-Chairman of the EU-Japan Business Round Table (EJBRT).

Le Gall holds the rank of Knight in both the Legion of Honor and the National Order of Merit.
He has been awarded “Ordre de l’Amitié” from the Russian Federation.

http://www.arianespace.com/about-us/our-management-bios-legall.asp  


Video
Galileo - Europe's GPS system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNahhfi60OM  


Video
Galileo Satelites 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj7KTD1HFYA&NR=1  


Video
Galileo Satelites 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM3uxo3l4ho&NR=1  


Video
Galileo Satelites 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRLJOJnwl7o&NR=1