ESA-European Space Agency selects Atos Origin as Qualified Partner

Atos Origin is the only company selected in 4 countries:
France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland

Paris, Atos Origin, an international IT services company, today announced that, as part of a significant competitive framework for procurement launched by the European Space Agency (ESA), it has been selected by the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) – the organisation that ensures the operations of ESA missions - as Qualified Partner from 2010 to 2014 for « Ground System Software Related Activities ».

This framework agreement is valid for a period of 5 years, and is expected to be worth up to 20 million euros a year. It will support a wide range of space missions and enable the development of related infrastructure (linked to, for instance, the GMES Satellites - Sentinel 1, 2 and 3, as well as the Bepi-Colombo interplanetary mission and the Galileo GNSS programme). Through this framework program, ESOC wants to be able to rely on a network of relevant European partners in order to develop innovative solutions, while optimising the development and maintenance costs of its systems.

“We are particularly proud that the European Space Agency has confidence in us and is choosing us as Qualified Partner. Atos Origin’s teams have contributed to the success of more than 50 space programmes and collaborated on a large number of projects for the CNES (the French Space Agency) and major industrial players within the sector (EADS, Thales Alenia Space) over the past twenty years. Capitalising on our expertise and solid track record, Atos Origin has the ambition to enhance its position within the areas of Space, Aeronautics and Defence in Europe and internationally.” declared Gilles Grapinet, Senior Executive Vice-President of Atos Origin.

Following a rigorous selection process, Atos Origin is one of 49 partners involved at a global level with the Ground System Software Related Activities. The ESA has emphasised the wide variety of areas covered by Atos Origin, and its expertise in key areas, such as flight dynamics and space debris. Thanks to this selection, Atos Origin will be able to contribute to the following areas:

Application Domains

* Ground Segment Data Infrastructure
* Flight Dynamic Systems
* Mission Specific Data Systems, New Applications
* Space Debris Systems

IT Domains

* IT Architecture
* Object Oriented Analysis, Design methodologies and technologies, programming, Artificial Intelligence
* System Approach
* Virtualisation
* Web-based Applications, Man-Machine Interface, Data Management, Business Information Framework

Atos Origin’s Space and Aeronautics Centre of Excellence brings together specialist skills in different areas, enabling us to respond to challenges posed by our scientific clients with regard to both information technology (complex system architecture, real time techniques, management of standards in place relating to aeronautics and space....) and our clients’ core requirements (flight dynamics, physics, structural mechanics, digital simulations and probability, calculation of orbit, satellite navigation....).

The teams within this centre also draw on the Group’s substantial skill-base with regard to critical, on-board and security systems. Our outstanding skills in critical systems has enabled us to be a partner within the French electro-nuclear programme for 30 years, and the only large IT services company able to supply digital control systems for nuclear power plants.

About ESA
The European Space Agency (ESA), an international organisation with 18 Member States, is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

About ESOC
The European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, ensures the smooth working of spacecraft in orbit. Its control rooms, linked to ground stations all over the world, track and control satellites, issuing commands for spacecraft manoeuvring, carrying out routine systems monitoring and transmitting payload operational instructions. It is the home of ESA’s Directorate of Operations and Infrastructure.

About Atos Origin
Atos Origin is a leading international information technology (IT) services company, providing hi-tech transactional services, consulting, systems integration and managed operations to deliver business outcomes globally. The company’s annual revenues are EUR 5.1 billion and it employs 49,000 people. Atos Origin is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games and has a client base of international companies across all sectors. Atos Origin is quoted on the Paris Eurolist Market and trades as Atos Origin, Atos Worldline and Atos Consulting.