EADS Space Transportation (Bremen) and Alenia Spazio (Turin), a Finmeccanica company, formed a joint venture on March 3.
In the presence of ESA representatives, Dr. Michael Menking, Vice President Orbital and Reusable Systems EADS Space Transportation, Dr. Stefan Graul, Vice President Business Development EADS Space Transportation, and Dr. Carlo Alberto Penazzi, CEO Alenia Spazio, signed the shareholder agreement in Amsterdam. CEO of Euriss N.V. (Amsterdam) will be Dr. Peter Vits (56).
“With the formation of Euriss, we consistently continue down the path towards industrialising operation and utilisation of the International Space Station.
“We thus assume increased responsibility for Europe’s involvement in the Space station programme. At the same time, we comply with the demand of the European governments for increased industrial involvement in this sector,” said Menking when signing the contract.
Euriss is the name of the new joint company, which acts as “mediator” between the European Space Agency ESA and those industries involved in Space station operation and utilisation.
The creation of Euriss (EADS Space Transportation 75% / Alenia Spazio 25%) will facilitate the execution of the so-called “Exploitation Contract”.
Instead of concluding individual contracts for individual services with several industrial companies, Euriss will be the only contracting partner of ESA for all industrial operation and utilisation activities regarding the European part of the International Space Station.
The “Exploitation Contract” is likely to cover a total volume of 2.6 billion euro and intended to run until 2013. The contract is based on the High Level Commitment of EADS Space Transportation and Alenia to ESA made in 2000.
The contract covers the production and launch of the ATV units no. 2 to no. 7 as well as mission preparation. It also covers mission control and operation of all the European ISS elements. The first ATV unit, “Jules Verne”, was part of the preceding development contract.
“Intensive and extended utilisation of the International Space Station is essential for maintaining at the highest level the competencies reached by European industry and to get ready for the future enterprise of the human exploration programme towards Moon and Mars,” said Carlo Alberto Penazzi.
EADS Space Transportation is the European lead company for civil and military Space transportation and manned Spaceflight. EADS Space Transportation is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS Space. In 2003, EADS Space achieved a turnover of EUR 2.4 billion with a labour force of 12,000 in France, Germany, Spain and the UK.
Alenia Spazio’s activities cover four areas: telecommunications/navigation, remote sensing, orbital infrastructures and scientific satellites. In 2003, Alenia Spazio recorded a production value of 507 million euros with a labour force of 2,400.
