Alcatel Alenia Space announced Thursday it will provide subsystems for the complete safeguard chain of Soyuz-Fregat rockets to be launched from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
The contract includes development and manufacturing of the Boitier de Commutation et d'Alimentation – the rocket's switching and power-feeder unit, as well as electronic ground equipment for tests and the reception of the safeguard subsystem, to be delivered to Russia's Samara TsSKB Progress Space Center, where the Soyuz stages are manufactured.
In case of emergency, the BCA ensures neutralization of the launcher by engine shutdown, leaving Soyuz in a ballistic trajectory.
Alcatel Alenia Space already is the largest supplier of onboard electronics for Ariane 5 rockets. In each Ariane 5, the company provides six different types of equipment, including the Boitier de Commande Sauvegarde – the safeguard control unit, which issues destruction orders to the rocket in the event of a problem or bad trajectory during launch.
"Alcatel Alenia Space is delighted to have been awarded this contract by CNES and Arianespace for the launches of Soyuz-Fregat from Kourou. It reinforces our role as worldwide provider of onboard launcher electronics," said Jean Horanieh, Alcatel Alenia Space's chief executive officer.
The first launch of Soyuz-Fregat in Kourou is scheduled for 2008.
