Thales announced on Saturday the successful launch of two satellites as part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Celeste in-orbit demonstration mission. One of these, designated IOD-2, was developed by Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales and Leonardo.
The two satellites lifted off on Saturday at 10:14 AM CET aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from New Zealand. Following a flight of approximately one hour, they were injected into orbit and began their Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), during which the control center prepares them for operational commissioning.
A suitcase-sized CubeSat weighing around 30 kilograms, IOD-2 will play a key role in validating system definitions and transmitting initial signals, while de-risking and demonstrating essential technologies for future Celeste satellites.
The Celeste mission aims to demonstrate how Low Earth Orbit Precise Navigation Timing (LEO PNT) can bolster the resilience of current and future medium-earth orbit navigation services and exponentially optimize their performance.
The mission is currently in its in-orbit demonstration phase, an initial stage that will eventually comprise a constellation of 11 low-earth orbit microsatellites developed by two European prime contractors, including five satellites supplied by Thales Alenia Space.
Thales is one of the European leaders in manufacturing and marketing of electronic equipment and systems for the aerospace, defense and security sectors. Net sales break down by product group as follows:
- defense and security systems (55.3%): C4I defense and security systems (control and monitoring systems, communication, protection, cyber-security, and other systems), defense mission systems, naval systems, electronic war systems, drones, air operation systems (air defense, air surveillance), ground defense systems and missiles;
- aerospace systems (26.7%): avionics equipment (cockpit, cabin multimedia, and simulation equipment), space systems (satellites, payloads, etc.);
- digital identification and security solutions (17.4%);
- other (0.6%).
Besides, the group owns a 35% stake in Naval Group (manufacture of naval equipment for defense and nuclear energy sectors).
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: France (27.7%), the United Kingdom (6.5%), Europe (28.1%), North America (12.4%), Asia (9.9%), Australia and New Zealand (4.1%) and other (11.3%).
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