Portsmouth, 31 March 2010: Dr Mike Healy, Head of Navigation for Europe’s leading space company, Astrium has been appointed to the governing body of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) by Lord Drayson the Minister for Science and Innovation.

STFC is an independent, non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and is responsible for fostering a broad range of scientific research in the UK.

As part of the STFC Council, Dr Healy will work with his fellow Council members in ensuring that the UK continues to produce scientific research of the highest quality, encourages researchers to create new businesses based on their discoveries, whilst helping established companies to use STFC’s research as the basis of new and improved products and services.

Along with heading up Astrium’s navigation division, Dr Healy is also Director of Astrium’s Portsmouth Site.  He was previously Director for Earth Observation and Science, Astrium UK.  He is also Director of ESNIS GmbH and Spa, a joint venture company established in Munich and Rome for the Galileo project, and has been involved in many space science programmes of relevance to STFC. He was previously a member of NERC’s Earth Observation Expert Group.

Dr Healy said: “Space is being increasingly recognised as a key pillar of the UK’s scientific community. To be appointed to the governing body of the STFC is a tremendous personal honour and reaffirms the importance of space focused research in delivering world-class science.”

Dr Healy’s appointment is effective from 1 April 2010 and he will serve on the Council until 31 March 2013.

About Astrium

Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2009, Astrium had a turnover of €4.8 billion and more than 15,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment and Astrium Services for the development and provision of secure and commercial satcoms and networks, high security satellite communications equipment, geo-information products and services, and navigation services.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2009, EADS generated revenues of €42.8 billion and employed a workforce of more than 119, 000.

Press contacts:

Daniel Mosely (Astrium UK)                                                      Tel.: +44 (0)1 438 77 8180

www.astrium.eads.net