Astrium is Europe’s preeminent space group and the third largest worldwide. It is the leading European supplier of satellites, launchers and space services. It plays a key role in Europe’s institutional and military space programmes.
Galileo is the new European satellite navigation system comprising a satellite-based network for precise positioning and timing information. Consisting of 30 satellites and associated ground infrastructure, it will have commercial and public applications. Astrium is playing a major role in Galileo’s design and development.
Ariane 5 is a powerful heavy-lift satellite launcher. Its payload capacity of up to ten tonnes meets the evolving demands of both commercial and government markets. Since becoming operational in 2005, it has proved reliable and flexible in 22 successful starts in a row.
The Columbus space laboratory and the unmanned Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) are Europe’s contribution to the International Space Station. Columbus and the ATV were successfully launched in early 2008.
Paradigm is the world’s first commercial provider of military satellite communications. Through the Skynet 5 programme, Paradigm will deliver secure communications to the U.K. armed forces up to at least 2020. The Skynet 5 contract is an innovative Private Finance Initiative scheme worth £3.6 billion.
