Cannes, June 24, 2021 – The European Alliance for Deep Space Antennas (E-DSA²) formed by Thales Alenia Space, Schwartz-Hautmont and mtex antenna technology has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to supply a fourth deep space antenna for the New Norcia ground station near Perth, Australia. This new-generation 35-meter antenna will enable ESA to increase its communications capacity in X, K and Ka bands and to round out its network of antennas for tracking spacecraft and collecting science data from solar system missions, such as Exomars TGO,  currently in orbit around the Red Planet, and BepiColombo, en route for Mercury, as well as upcoming missions including the Euclid astronomical observatory or the Juice mission to Jupiter, both set to launch in 2022. New Norcia is part of ESA’s ESTRACK global network of ground stations.

Thales Alenia Space, joint venture between Thales (67 %) and Leonardo (33 %), is the consortium partner in charge of overall performance of the antenna, set for commissioning in 2024. It will also be responsible for the antenna’s systems engineering, the overall system and equipment (RF, power, cooling, etc.). The construction of this deep space antenna marks a first for Thales Alenia Space. The challenge is to pick up very faint signals and then boost them considerably for transmission from and to objects in deep space, to enable reception of science data and uploading of commands to space probes.

 

 

Thales Alenia Space will be relying on Thales’ expertise in Australia to finalize the terms of the civil engineering contract and oversee its execution, and on lessons learned by Telespazio, the joint venture of Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%), in charge of the maintenance of one of the three ESA antennas for deep space communications in Malargue, Argentina.

“We’re extremely proud to have been selected by ESA for this project, which marks a new challenge for Thales Alenia Space,” noted Marc-Henri Serre, Thales Alenia Space Executive Vice-President, Telecommunications. “Building a consortium with a strong European footprint to attain excellence in the cutting-edge field of deep space antennas was key to winning this contract. With this first success for the E-DSA2 consortium, we can look forward to positioning this alliance for the long term in the institutional market and beyond.”

The high-performance New Norcia ground station comprises an antenna weighing more than 600 metric tons, employing cutting-edge technologies including 20-kW high-power amplifiers (HPA) and low-noise amplifiers (LNA) cryogenically cooled to –260°C. It is aiming for optical efficiency of more than 90% and pointing precision of 6 millidegrees in all weather conditions.

 

Artistic View © Thales Alenia Space

 

About the E-DSA² consortium
The European Alliance for Deep Space Antennas (E-DSA²) is formed by Thales Alenia Space, Schwartz-Hautmont and mtex antenna technology.

Schwartz-Hautmont is a Spanish firm specializing in the fabrication and assembly of very large metal structures. It previously built and installed nine 34-meter deep space antennas of this kind for NASA around the globe.

Mtex antenna technology is a German mid-size firm with expertise in mechanical design and the installation and testing of deep space antennas and telescopes.

The E-DSA² consortium will also be relying on the proven products and renowned expertise of Callisto France, a mid-size firm in Villefranche de Lauragais, for the cryogenically cooled LNAs, and on Rheinmetall Italy for the HPAs.

See here for more details about the ESTRACK antenna network. Access EstrackNOW to follow ground station activity in real-time.

 

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 1.850 billion euros in 2020 and has around 7,700 employees in 18  sites in 11 countries across Europe and a plant in the USA. www.thalesaleniaspace.com

 

THALES ALENIA SPACE – PRESS CONTACTS

Sandrine Bielecki    
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94    
sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com

Catherine des Arcis    
Tel: +33(0)6 78 64 63 97    
catherine.des-arcis@thalesaleniaspace.com

Tarik Lahlou        
Tel.: +33 (0)6 87 95 89 56    
tarik.lahlou@thalesaleniaspace.com