Reaching the Moon to do something useful there involves preparation—which is now underway as agencies and companies aim to return humans to the lunar surface.
Airbus has embarked on a cost-containment effort and a mid-term competitiveness plan as part of its effort to turn around its struggling space business.
Leonardo is talking to Airbus and Thales about linking their satellite manufacturing businesses, officials say—which could help the companies to deal with slow demand.
The ESA has awarded The Exploration Company and Thales Alenia Space separate contracts to continue work to develop low-Earth-orbit cargo return services.
Officially forming on March 12, Leonardo's space business becomes one of five business areas representing each of the warfighting domains: land, air, sea, cyber and space.
Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Thales Alenia Space can take part in the first phase of the tender for the UK’s Skynet Enduring Capability Wideband satcoms program.
Thales Alenia Space has won contracts to supply synthetic aperture radar and optical satellites for IRIDE, the hybrid Italian Earth observation constellation.