Der französische Botschafter in der Schweiz, Frédéric Journès, besucht den Standort von Thales Alenia Space in Zürich [fr]

The French Ambassador in Switzerland, Frederic Journes visits the Thales Alenia Space site in Zurich
The center of excellence for optical communications and space optoelectronics instruments

“I am pleased to start my meeting day in the canton of Zurich with a visit at Thales Alenia Space facilities, a jewel of Franco-Swiss technology! This cooperation is emblematic of the cutting-edge technologies as well as of the know-how of excellence our two countries are achieving together” commented Frédéric Journès, Ambassador of France to Switzerland.

The Swiss space sector is an important part of the European and worldwide space industry with around 100 Swiss companies producing high-end products and critical technologies for space missions employing about 2500 people. More over in 2016, an ESA Business Incubation Centre opened in Switzerland to support entrepreneurs to realize their innovative ideas and transfer technologies from space to Earth and from Earth to space. A key actor in this growing sector, Thales Alenia Space is ready to work together with the space ecosystem to raise the new upcoming main challenges driven by more safety and security, more green and digital solution but also for the new dynamics in exploration missions.

In this frame Ambassador and the delegation visited the center of competence in optoelectronics instruments and optical communication product development where we developed the close up camera CLUPI for Exomars 2022 rover, the most relevant instrument which will enable the scientist to view the samples of material that the driller is extracting or the radiation monitors that presently we are producing of for(?) MTG and MeTop SG mission and one of which was launched on S6 end of last year. It is also from here that we are developing the Optical Inter Satellites Links for the Telesat Low Earh Orbit 298-satellites constellation based on the Thales Alenia Space OPTEL-C product and where the compact OPTEL-µ®, another optical communication product developed in the Zurich premises to download data from LEO small satellites, is prepared for its first mission.

"I am extremely honoured to welcome French Ambassador, Frederic Journes and the delegation in Thales Alenia Space excellence space centre in Zurich and to showcase more than 20 years’s expertise in optical communications and optoelectronics instruments. We are proud to be a key actor in the space sector, carrying the Swiss expertise at the highest international level whether in the field of telecommunications, observation or exploration”, said Elisabetta Rugi Grond, CEO of Thales Alenia Space in Switzerland.

“I also would like to extend my congratulations to Thales Alenia Space in Switzerland for its outstanding contribution in the deployment of the Lightspeed constellation for the Canadian operator Telesat” concluded Ambassador Frédéric Journès.

ABOUT THALES ALENIA SPACE

Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space 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 approximately 1.85 billion euros in 2020 and has around 7,700 employees in 18 sites in 11 countries across Europe and a plant in the USA.