Thales Alenia Space
Cannes-based Thales (67%)/Leonardo (33%) space JV; ExoMars prime contractor and lead of Italy's in-orbit servicing demo with an autonomous robotic vehicle.
Thales Alenia Space is a European space manufacturer and a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%); together with Telespazio it forms the two groups' Space Alliance. The company reports around 8,000 employees at 14 sites in seven European countries and consolidated revenues of EUR 2.36 billion in 2025. Its CEO is Herve Derrey. Business is organised in five activities: Connect (telecommunications), Observe & Protect (Earth observation), Secure & Defend (defence and dual-use systems), Explore (solar system exploration and science) and Travel & Navigate (navigation satellite systems). Within exploration, it builds pressurized modules for crewed space infrastructure.
Robotics-related activity centres on planetary exploration and in-orbit servicing. Thales Alenia Space is prime contractor for the European ExoMars programme and is preparing the Rosalind Franklin rover for its first steps on Mars. In May 2023 the Italian Space Agency (ASI) awarded a Thales Alenia Space-led industrial grouping a EUR 235 million contract, funded by Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan, for an In-Orbit Servicing (IOS) demonstration mission. In that mission Thales Alenia Space is delivering an autonomous robotic servicing vehicle that carries a robotic arm developed by Leonardo with SAB Aerospace, the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) and the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT); partners include Avio (orbital support and propulsion module), D-Orbit (target satellite based on its ION platform) and Telespazio with ALTEC (ground segment). The mission completed its System Preliminary Design Review in October 2025.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
In-Orbit Servicing autonomous robotic vehicle (ASI IOS mission)
Autonomous servicing spacecraft carrying a Leonardo robotic arm for Italy's in-orbit servicing demo.
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Contact Thales Alenia Space
WEBSITE
https://www.thalesaleniaspace.comHEADQUARTERS
France
Company Facts
Founded
-
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
Europe
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
Subsidiary / Acquired
Funding Total
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Keywords
- Thales Alenia Space
- ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover
- in-orbit servicing demonstration
- autonomous servicing vehicle
- pressurized modules
- space exploration systems
- Space Alliance
- ASI IOS mission
- Manufacturer
- System Integrator
- Autonomous Vehicle/UGV
- Aerospace & Space
- Defense & Security
- Space Explore
- On Orbit Servicing
