The formation of Astrium, a new mega space company comprising Matra Marconi Space (MMS), Alenia Spazio and Daimler Chrysler's space division (Dasa) will be finalised before the end of the year, said Armand Carlier, the MMS chief executive officer, at the show yesterday.
Carlier - who will be the Astrium CEO - said that Dasa would be on board within weeks and Alenia by the end of the year.
Following the recent merger between Aerospatiale Matra, Astrium will be part of this larger group, both entities representing a space company as large as Boeing's space activities, with a turnover of $2.5 billion.
Astrium will provide anything to do with space - except launchers. The launcher business area remains separately under the Aerospatiale Matra umbrella. Aerospatiale's satellite business is now part of Alcatel Espace.
The fact that CASA has linked with DASA and that satellites and anything else to do with space are separated at Aerospatiale Matra executive board level, will not effect the day-to-day operations of Astrium, said Carlier.
Carlier said that Astrium will not be "working for" Aerospatiale Matra. For example, when it delivers a launcher component, this will be delivered to Arianespace, not Aerospatiale Matra.
Source: Flight Daily News