Thales Alenia Space, an Italian space company, may be unfamiliar to the general public but is well-known among those in the space industry. Thales Alenia Space participated in the production of Korea's communication satellite Mugunghwa 6 in 2010 and is also involved in the 425 project, a domestic reconnaissance satellite cluster project, and the Korean positioning system (GPS) project known as KPS. It is a significant space partner for Korea.
On Jan. 21, Roberto Angelini, the engineering director of Thales Alenia Space, met at the Italian Embassy in Yongsan, Seoul, and revealed plans to further expand space alliances with Korea. In an interview with ChosunBiz, he said, "We have been cooperating with Korea in communication and meteorological satellites, and now we are building a stronger partnership," adding, "I expect there will be opportunities for cooperation in space exploration and space science beyond satellites in the future."
Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture established in 2005 by the Italian defense company Leonardo and the French defense company Thales. It holds technology in artificial satellites, space exploration systems, and space infrastructure and is considered one of the leading space corporations in Europe. It has also manufactured about half of the habitable modules for the International Space Station (ISS). The company participates in various space projects, including the Galileo satellite global positioning system (GPS) and the ExoMars project from the European Space Agency (ESA), and stands out in the overall space business except for launch vehicles.
Director Angelini stated, "We developed reconnaissance satellites in collaboration with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems, achieving the first successful launch at the end of last year," noting, "We have completed the launch of 2 out of 4 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites and plan to launch the remaining 2 soon."
He expressed hope that participation in the 425 project would serve as a catalyst to expand cooperation in the space sector with Korea. He stated, "I expect that the development of military satellites will pave the way for new collaboration with Korea," and added, "I understand that there are future upgrade plans for the 425 project, so I expect that opportunities for cooperation will arise again."
Regarding the ongoing KPS project, he mentioned, "We plan to develop navigation devices, time synchronization, and ground station operations for the GPS satellites," and explained, "We are proceeding according to schedule based on our experience in building the Galileo system."
Director Angelini advised that as competition in the global space industry intensifies, corporations must embrace various challenges to survive. He emphasized the need for an environment conducive to corporate growth through government-led space exploration programs. He noted, "Currently, the business model in the space industry is changing," and explained, "The current standard for space exploration is for the government to purchase and use necessary services from corporations."
He cited the example of a private space station that would replace the ISS. Thales Alenia Space is currently manufacturing two modules for Axiom Space's space station. Director Angelini stated, "We are responsible for the development of 3 out of 4 modules for the lunar gateway under the Artemis program led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and expect to secure the airlock module project from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)," adding, "We are also engaged in discussions regarding space station projects with Blue Origin, Orbital Reef, and Voyager Space."
Director Angelini explained that there are possibilities for future cooperation with Korea in the fields of space exploration and space science. He stated, "I expect that we can enhance the mission's completion through cooperation with Korean corporations in various areas, including commercial space stations and lunar exploration," and added, "The door for cooperation with Korean corporations is open."