From the Earth to the Moon, then to Mars and beyond, humanity’s creativity knows no bounds. Technologies developed for space continue to shape our world, now and for many years to come.

Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space form together the Space Alliance, a strategic partnership between the world-class companies Leonardo and Thales, able to offer a complete range of solutions to create a better life on Earth and extend our reach into space. Space Alliance has a strong international presence in major space markets, with more than 10,000 employees located in 12 countries around the world.

_{© Artistic view of COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellites. Image: Thales Alenia Space}

As Space Alliance, we are committed to sustainable development on Earth and beyond, based on advanced services and technologies, and to the ongoing exploration of space, including a lasting human presence, scientific discoveries, and economic benefits. Combining the respective skills and expertise of Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, we are at the forefront of the emerging New Space market.

Our alliance will spur the development of new technologies and innovative services that benefit citizens, businesses, and governments. In addition, we act as a driving force for the entire space industry supply chain, including start-ups, SMEs, and research centres.

We offer a comprehensive array of solutions spanning the entire space value chain, from satellite manufacturing to innovative services, for operators, governments, and space agencies.

Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space are working on projects to return astronauts to the Moon, as a supplier of space station modules, cargo vessels, robotics, space transportation systems and advanced materials.

We’re also looking at how to create a lunar economy, by developing the same kind of satellite navigation and communication services as we have on Earth. But this is only a first step towards Mars, a prime goal in the coming decades.

Whether exploring or studying Mars, Mercury, the Moon, comets or exoplanets, we are a major player in many missions across the solar system, including landmark programs such as ExoMars, BepiColombo and Rosetta.

Innovations in Earth observation will bring to new powerful and capable sensors that will enable new platforms thanks to digital twins and big data analysis. Those will underpin increasingly accurate and targeted services for farmers, town planners and decision-makers in many different domains.

 As they incorporate the latest technologies such as software-defined solutions including state-of-the-art digital processors, powerful and flexible payloads associated to flexible ground segments, active antennas or intersatellite laser links, our space-based and hybrid communication services contribute, together with our legacy in constellations, to bridging the digital divide worldwide, bringing the internet and its benefits to the most remote places on the planet. Looking further ahead, 5G and quantum technologies will pave the way for a quantum leap in performance and connection security.

_{©  Space Rider; Image: ESA}

To make space more sustainable, we’re developing on-orbit servicing spacecraft and services, capable of handling a wide range of maintenance tasks and services in orbit, including the removal of space debris and satellite life extension, repair, refueling and inspection.

Another major project is Space Rider, a next-generation reusable transportation system for low Earth orbit. This new spacecraft, derived from the IXV reentry demonstrator, will enable Europe to provide innovative new services directly in space. An industrial consortium led by Thales Alenia Space and AVIO will build it. Telespazio and ALTEC (a joint venture between Thales Alenia Space and ASI) will manage the ground segment and mission operations.

Our satellites and services contribute to a more sustainable life on Earth.

Thanks to artificial intelligence and big data analytics, our radar and optical Earth observation systems deliver vital environmental monitoring information. Our Alliance has developed some of today’s most iconic Earth observation programs, such as COSMO-SkyMed and Copernicus.  

With Thales Alenia Space building satellites and Telespazio analyzing data and delivering services, our alliance covers the complete value chain.

Telespazio has also formed e-GEOS (a joint venture between Telespazio and ASI) to process COSMO-SkyMed data and offer near-real-time monitoring and large-area mapping services.

In the telecommunications market, we have overseen a number of defense and dual (civil-military) programs, such as Athena-Fidus and SICRAL, as well as SGDC, a dual-use Brazilian satellite, just to name a few. The Space Alliance is also developing an innovative satellite system dubbed European GovSatCom initiative.

The world benchmark in constellations, we also took the lead on the geostationary telecommunications market. The Space Alliance has actually played a pivotal role in numerous civil geostationary programs. Years after the years, the technologies, ground segments and services we offer have been upgraded to match the evolving needs of telecom operators.

The Space Alliance provides specific space solutions well suited to the needs of regional operators, very high throughput satellites delivering broadband connectivity worldwide, and new software-defined fully-digitalized solutions, that are flexible and reconfigurable in orbit. We deliver solutions tailored to the specific needs of each operator, to enhance connectivity and mobility, while bridging the digital divide.

One major example is EUTELSAT KONNECT VHTS, the most powerful and capacitive satellite ever built in Europe. Eutelsat’s geostationary satellite will deliver very high-speed Internet access anywhere in Europe, especially in isolated areas, with service comparable to a fiber-optic network in terms of both performance and economics.

Space Alliance has already addressed new markets, such as drones, that can offer, leveraging on satellite capacities, communication services, command and control services and payload management.

We are at the forefront of providing innovative hybrid communications services for every type of market - maritime, energy, institutional, military. The hybrid connections, exploiting the best technologies on the market, both satellite and non-satellite, allow us to provide our customers with a high-quality and high-performance service in all conditions, ensuring very high standards.

We are at the forefront of satellite navigation initiatives in Europe, reflected in our major roles on the EGNOS augmentation system and Galileo, Europe’s own global navigation satellite system (GNSS). Thales Alenia Space has been chosen as prime contractor for six of the twelve Galileo Second Generation satellites, while Telespazio oversees the operation of all navigation services provided by Galileo, via the Fucino Space Center.

The Space Alliance sets the pace in New Space, with its unique combination of skills to shape a better future on Earth and in space.