International Space Station

Thales Alenia Space with help from Microsoft demonstrate on-orbit compute technologies onboard the International Space Station to gather unmatched Earth observation insights

04 Apr 2022

April 4, 2022 – Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) (67%) and Leonardo (Milan stock exchange: LDO) (33%), announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft to explore the enablement of new capabilities in the Space Edge Computing (SEC), Artificial Intelligence Space Observation tools (DeeperVision) and Digital Ground Segment.

Cygnus spacecraft successfully docked to the International Space Station

21 Feb 2022

The latest Cygnus resupply vessel, named in honor of former astronaut and renowned climate scientist Piers Sellers, has successfully docked to the International Space Station (ISS). The 17th Cygnus operational mission was launched by an Antares 230+ rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, on Saturday, February 19.

Cygnus #16 en route to ISS

29 Jul 2021

The latest Cygnus cargo vessel is safely on its way to the International Space Station, and in about two days it will reach astronauts waiting for fresh supplies, new science experiments and personal items.

For the NG-16 mission, the Cygnus spacecraft will deliver approximately 3,700 kg (8,200 lb) of cargo to the ISS. Named in honor of the late Ellison Onizuka, the first Asian-American astronaut, the S.S. Ellison Onizuka was launched into orbit on August 10 by an Antares 230+ rocket from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad 0A on Wallops Island, VA.

Thales Alenia Space to provide the first two pressurized modules for Axiom Space Station

14 Jul 2021

Rome 15 July, 2021 – Thales Alenia Space, Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), and Axiom Space of Houston, Texas (USA), have signed the final contract for the development of two key pressurized elements of Axiom Space Station - the world’s first commercial space station. Scheduled for launch in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the two elements will originally be docked to the International Space Station (ISS), marking the birth of the new Axiom Station segment. The value of the contract is 110 Million Euro.

Thomas Pesquet: from Proxima to Alpha

19 Apr 2021

Lifting off with Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur from NASA and Akihiko Hoshide from the Japanese space agency JAXA, Thomas Pesquet was the first ESA astronaut to fly on the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, on April 23.

Space flight celebrates 60th anniversary and looks to the future

12 Apr 2021

It’s getting to be quite a long time since the first human space flight.

Sixty years ago, on April 12, 1961 – nearly 58 years after the Wright Brothers made the first powered flight – Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth in the Vostok 3KA-3 capsule, proving that humans could indeed travel into space and return safety.

Thales Alenia Space celebrates double achievement for Cygnus

22 Feb 2021

Turin, February 22, 2021 – Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has been confirmed by Northrop Grumman to deliver pressurized cargo modules for the 18th and 19th Cygnus cargo mission. This contract extension reaffirms the longstanding collaboration between the two companies, certifying Thales Alenia Space’s ongoing contribution to the success of Cygnus missions, but also its crucial role in the future space exploration programs.

Tranquility and Cupola, a stellar combo benefiting mankind since 2010

08 Feb 2021

Eleven years ago to the day, the Space Shuttle Endeavour lifted off with two new modules for the International Space Station: Node 3, dubbed Tranquility, and the Cupola. Both were designed, integrated and tested by Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy. The two modules were docked to the ISS a few days after the launch, to the great satisfaction of all astronauts involved.

Bishop Airlock to the ISS!

04 Dec 2020

Turin, 4 December 2020 – Bishop, the Nanoracks commercial airlock module, is ready to be launched to the International Space Station on SpaceX CRS-21 .

The 14th mission of Cygnus spacecraft on its way to the International Space Station

03 Oct 2020

Turin, October 3rd, 2020 – The Cygnus spacecraft, dedicated to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS), has been successfully launched by an Antares rocket from Wallops Island, Virginia, on its 14th operational mission. Cygnus comprises two main elements: a Service Module, built by Northrop Grumman, and an enhanced Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM), developed and built by Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%). Northrop Grumman also builds the Antares rocket.