Thales Alenia Space (TAS) | ALTEC
http://www.thalesgroup.com/space
- Life Sciences
- Technology Development
TAS, European leader for satellite systems and at the forefront of orbital infrastructures, contributed to the development of the International Space Station (ISS), for about 50% of its entire pressurized volume, with the Columbus laboratory and experimental facilities, Nodes 2 and 3, Cupola, PMM and logistics modules MPLM and ATV. TAS has a contract with Orbital ATK for the supply of Cygnus Pressurized Cargo Modules. For ISS Utilization TAS benefits of ALTEC Space Life Science oriented expertise and facilities.
ALTEC, controlled by TAS and participated by ASI—Italian Space Agency, helps to bring science to ISS by supporting astronauts training, engineering and logistics, Space Life Science experiments, neutral buoyancy microgravity simulation, ground control, science data processing and more. ALTEC payload development capability benefits of TAS ISS-oriented design and manufacturing experience.
TAS/ALTEC operates in the US via the US based company THALES USA.
Primary Services:
- Contractual/Technical coordination
- Engineering Support
- Operations
- Logistics
- Crew Training
- User Support
- Design, Development, Manufacturing, Integration and Testing of Payload Facilities and Experiments
ISS-certified Hardware:
- Fluid Science Lab (FSL) and European Drawer Rack (EDR) facilities in the Columbus module.
- MDS (Mice Drawer System): Space multi-cage accommodates 6 mice.
- Complete set of Experimental Facilities, Assemblies, Components, and Cargo Transportation Elements qualified for ISS.
Research Support Services:
- Interface with NASA ISS Payloads Office
- Preparation of all the required documentation
- Support bench reviews and crew training
- Design, Development, Manufacturing, Assembly and Verification of flight-certified hardware to support research objectives
- Support the entire end-to-end process, from the development of initial concepts to the operations of the experiments on board and recovery from landing systems
- Training of the astronauts (ALTEC crew trainers are certified by NASA and ESA)
- Feasibility assessment of possible accommodation of onboard experiments
- Implementation and certification of payloads
- Ground development and qualification testing
- Definition and implementation of training for ground and flight procedures
- Payload operations on the ISS
- Archiving and dissemination of data
Labs, Shops, Test Facilities, & POC’s:
- Neutral buoyancy Test Facility (ALTEC NBTF) to simulate micro-g and support gravitational physiology studies
- Development and testing of breadboards in laboratory environment
- Real time Operations Support from ALTEC Mission Control Room
- Integration and Testing of space systems in Clean Rooms (ISO8 and ISO5)