Paris, October 17, 2005 - EADS Astrium has chosen Arianespace to launch the two "Spirale" micro satellites, technology demonstrators for a spaceborne optical early warning system.
The two Spirale satellites will be injected into geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5 launched from the Guiana Space Center They will be carried as auxiliary passengers on an Ariane 5 mission in 2008, using the ASAP 5 structure.
EADS Astrium is the prime contractor for the Spirale demonstration program, acting on behalf of French defence procurement agency DGA. It will involve the construction of about 130-kg micro satellites each, using the Myriade platform developed by CNES.
The Spirale demonstration program is designed to collect and analyze images in the infrared band against a land background, in order to detect ballistic missiles during their boost phase. The Spirale program heralds a future early warning system, that will be a strategic component in a ballistic missile defence system.
It is the second time this year that EADS Astrium has chosen Arianespace to launch a military satellite after the selection of Ariane 5 for the British Ministry of Defence’s Skynet 5A and Skynet 5B military communications satellites.
EADS Astrium is Europe’s leading satellite system specialist. Its activities cover complete civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation systems, science and navigation programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and equipment.
EADS Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS SPACE, which is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2004 EADS SPACE had a turnover of €2.6 billion and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services.
In 2004, EADS generated revenues of €31.8 billion and employed a workforce of more than 110,000.
Contacts for the Media:
- EADS SPACE (F) Rémi ROLAND
- +33 (0) 1 42 24 27 34
- EADS SPACE (UK) Jeremy CLOSE
- +44 (0) 1 438 77 3872
- EADS SPACE (GER) Mathias PIKELJ
- +49 (0) 7545 8 9123
http://www.space.eads.net
