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Euclid is a European Space Agency (ESA) (esa.int) astronomy and astrophysics mission designed to help us better understand the nature of dark energy and dark matter. Thales Alenia Space in Spain is responsible for the communications system, while Thales Alenia Space in Italy is the satellite prime contractor, and also responsible for the service module.
Euclid will map the general structure of the Universe over 10 billion light years to show its expansion and growth during the last three-quarters of its history. The mission is designed to address two of the most important questions in cosmology today: How did the Universe originate and why is it expanding at an accelerating rate, rather than slowing down due to the gravitational attraction of its constituent matter?
Euclid will map the 3D distribution of up to two billion galaxies and associated dark matter during a six-year mission, covering most of the sky outside our Milky Way. The complete survey represents hundreds of thousands of images and several tens of petabytes of data. This huge amount of data will be transmitted by the satellite from its orbit around the L2 Sun-Earth Lagrangian point at a distance of 1.5 million kilometers from the Earth, using its K-band radiofrequency data transmission system. Euclid also incorporates an X-band system to control and monitor the spacecraft, and measure its distance to Earth.
According to Eduardo Bellido, CEO of Thales Alenia Space in Spain,“This program confirms Thales Alenia Space in Spain’s status as the European benchmark in communications subsystems. The delivery of the communications module marks an important milestone in the program. We are very proud to be playing a key role in one of ESA’s flagship programs to help us better understand the Universe.”
Thales Alenia Space in Spain is specialized in satellite communications, building on a long heritage in TT&C and data transmission systems for all type of space missions, including missions in low Earth orbit (LEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), lunar orbit and science missions orbiting around the L2 Lagrangian point (Herschel, Planck, Euclid, WFIRST, PLATO). Over the last 15 months, the company has delivered communications systems for 12 different satellites, including Sentinel 1, 2 and 3 (‘C’ and ‘D’ families), Meteosat Third Generation (MTG), Euclid and an export program comprising 3 Earth observation satellites.
Paolo Musi, Director of Science Programs at Thales Alenia Space in Italy, added “The development of Euclid is on track, with the ongoing integration and testing of the service module flight model in Turin, while the complete satellite structural and thermal model (STM) is ready for thermal qualification tests in Cannes. The Euclid program also reflects Thales Alenia Space’s strong presence in Europe, with outstanding contributions by our teams in Italy, Spain, Belgium and France.”
The Euclid service module has already begun integration and testing in Turin. The launch is planned for 2022, using a Soyuz rocket operating at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.
About Thales Alenia Space in Spain
Thales Alenia Space is well represented in Spain and is the country’s leading space company in the space segment and export markets, with 30 years of experience in the design, development and sale of advanced space systems and equipment. It has contributed to more than 500 satellites, space probes and vehicles used in telecommunications, Earth observation, science, exploration, navigation and orbital infrastructure missions. Thales Alenia Space in Spain offers a wide range of solutions spanning the design and integration of payloads and subsystems for telecommunications, data transmission and TT&C (tracking, telemetry and command), optical observation instruments, radiofrequency equipment, data processing and digital electronics, and network management systems for the ground segment.
About Thales Alenia Space
Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space (thalesaleniaspace.com) delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of about 2.5 billion euros in 2018 and has around 8,000 employees in nine countries.
Thales Alenia Space Press Contacts:
Chrystelle Dugimont; T: +33(0)4 92 92 74 06 - E: chrystelle.dugimont[.]thalesaleniaspace.com.
Cinzia Marcanio; T: +39 06 41512685 - E: cinzia.marcanio[.]thalesaleniaspace.com.
photo copyright [.]ESA/ATG medialab
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sandrine.bielecki[.]thalesaleniaspace.com 
