Astrium's activities

Our technical excellence and extensive prime contractorship experience extend across all sectors of the space business – launch vehicles, manned space activities and satellite systems and related services.

Astrium boasts some of the most advanced design, manufacture and test facilities in the space industry. It has unrivalled expertise in the techniques and key technologies required for development and delivery of major space systems. The company’s highly skilled, motivated teams ensure that it offers its customers – civil or military, national, institutional or commercial – the very best, most efficient solutions for all their requirements, combining quality, cost-effectiveness, rapid delivery and constant innovation.

An integrated company at your service

Astrium operates via three branches:

Astrium Space Transportation The European prime contractor for civil and military space transportation and manned space activities. It designs, develops and produces Ariane launchers, the Columbus laboratory and the ATV cargo vessel for the International Space Station, atmospheric re-entry vehicles, ballistic missiles for France’s nuclear deterrent force, propulsion systems and space equipment.

Astrium Satellites

A world leader in the design and manufacture of satellite systems, with business activities covering civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation, science and navigation programmes, together with a complete range of associated ground infrastructure and space equipment.

Astrium Services

At the forefront of satellite service provision in secure communications and navigation. The European ‘one-stop-shop’ for tailored milsatcom solutions, delivering managed secure satellite services ranging from communications capacity to implementing equipment and related services to a number of countries. Astrium Services is also a major partner in the consortium selected to manage services to be provided by the new European global satellite navigation system, Galileo.

Specialisms across the board

Internationally recognised, Astrium’s prime roles in a wide range of space programmes are complemented by its specialist subsidiaries: Dutch Space, for space instruments and simulation systems, EADS Sodern for optronics and space equipment, and CILAS for laser technologies and high precision optics. Astrium also provides launch services, through its shareholdings in Arianespace (Ariane launcher), Starsem (Soyuz launcher) and Eurockot (Rockot launcher), as well as space-based services via telecommunications and Earth observation satellites, through wholly owned entities such as Paradigm and Infoterra, or joint ventures such as Spot Image.

Powerhousing this extensive range of expertise, Astrium offers a unique combination of technical skills and a focused ambition to deliver the benefits that only space can provide.