Swiss Space Systems signs partnership agreement with a major player in space industry

Swiss Space Systems is a young Swiss aerospace company whose goal, from now until 2018, is the development, construction, certification and operation of suborbital spacecraft for launching small satellites up to a weight of 250 kg.  

This agreement will allow S3 to further develop the project, also proposing research applications in the areas of microgravity and suborbital passenger transportation. The S3 project also takes advantage of the prestigious collaboration of ESA’s Astronaut Center and of other important aerospace industries.  

Based on this Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two companies, Thales Alenia Space will provide its know-how in order to design the pressurized compartment which, depending on mission requirements, will be configured as a laboratory intended to house scientific and technological experiments or to accommodate passengers.

The definition of the finalization of a preliminary phase of the contract between Thales Alenia Space and S3 is expected for the end of the summer.

“Thales Alenia Space, with its proven experience and capability in the human flight and space transportation sector, is undoubtedly the ideal and most qualified partner to support Swiss Space Systems in the development of the pressurized module of the SOAR project - stated Luigi Maria Quaglino, Senior Vice President Domain Exploration and Science.

The European leader in satellite systems and a major player in orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%). With consolidated revenues of 2.1 billion Euros in 2012, Thales Alenia Space has 7,500 employees in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium and United States.