Thales Alenia Space’s Spanish subsidiary, Thales Alenia Space España, was awarded a 17 million euro contract by Sener, the payload prime contractor, to supply the electronics for the optical observation Instrument on the Ingenio satellite. Ingenio’s primary mission is to ensure regular coverage of emerged areas to deliver high-resolution images to a wide array of users.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Spanish government CDTI (Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology) signed in 2007 an initial contract for the development of an optical Earth observation satellite, to be financed by Spain and built by a Spanish industrial consortium. The consortium includes EADS CASA Espacio as satellite prime contractor, Sener for the primary optical instrument and Thales Alenia Space España to develop and supply all electronics for the instrument. Additionally, Thales Alenia Space España is also separately in charge of the development and delivery of the X- and S-band communications subsystems to prime contractor.
Scheduled for launch in 2012, Ingenio is Spain’s first Earth observation satellite and the first to be built by a consortium of Spanish companies. Offering a design life of seven years, the satellite will feature an optical imager with 2.5-meter resolution in black and white, and
10-meter resolution in color, reflecting Thales Alenia Space’s proven expertise in optical Earth observation technologies.
For the primary payload, Thales Alenia Space España will design, develop, manufacture, test and deliver to Sener the fully validated flight model instrument electronics, including both Panchromatic and Multispectral Detection Units, and the associated Instrument Service Unit. The contract also includes supply of the detection unit GSE (Ground Support Equipment) and EGSE (Electrical Ground Support Equipment) for Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) of the complete instrument.
Commenting on this contract, Angel Post, Thales Alenia Space España’s CEO said: “We are delighted and proud to have won this contract, since it reflects Sener’s and CDTI’s confidence in our company, and our excellent teamwork and joint leadership in optical observation satellite equipment. The development of the Ingenio program is a major step forward for Spain, since it gives us an outstanding opportunity to develop our national expertise, by assuming complete responsibility for the development and construction of the optical Earth observation payload.”
