Alcatel Expands Russian Space Cooperation (June 22)
LE BOURGET, France---Alcatel Space announced today that it has signed a contract with the Babakin Space Center (Lavochkin Association) as part of the French Mars exploration program Premier, involving a sample return and networked experiments. Alcatel Space has worked with Russia for many years on the production of communications satellites.
The Babakin Space Center will be responsible for the development and production of the landing system on the four atmospheric descent modules in the Mars NetLander mission. Babakin is proposing an atmospheric re-entry technology inherited from the Mars 96 mission, which provided for the descent of payloads through the Martian atmosphere using an extremely lightweight inflatable system. Following initial parachute braking, the landing subsystem - comprising airbags plus a distancing line - will enable a soft landing on Mars, where the scientific modules will be deployed.
The Babakin Space Center and Alcatel Space have already teamed up on planetary exploration programs, with the joint construction of the six-wheeled Lama robotic vehicle.
Alcatel Space ranks among the world's leading space systems prime contractors. Leveraging its dual expertise in civil and military applications, Alcatel Space develops satellite technology solutions for telecommunications, navigation, optical and radar observation, meteorology, and scientific applications. Alcatel Space established its world leadership in satellite orders in 2000, winning the most orders for geostationary communications satellites, with a total of 10 satellites (27% of the market). A fully-owned subsidiary of Alcatel (100%), Alcatel Space generated 2000 revenues of 1.4 billion euros and has 6,000 employees.
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Alcatel Steps Up Collaboration With Russia On Scientific Missions
