Astrium

Astrium

Astrium Logo
Industry	Space industry, Space tourism
Predecessor(s)	EADS SPACE
Founded	December 2006
Founder(s)	EADS
Headquarters	Paris, France
Employees	15,000
Parent	EADS
Website	http://www.astrium.eads.net/

Astrium is an aerospace subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and which provides civil and defence space systems and services. In 2009, Astrium had a turnover of €4.8 billion and 15,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Astrium is member of Institut au service du spatial, de ses applications et technologies.

Business Layout

Its three main areas of activity are :

• Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment
• Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure
• Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services

Space tourism

Logo used until 2010

In June 2007, EADS Astrium announced it would be entering the space tourism sector. On June 20 2007 the company unveiled a model of the space jet, a one-stage sub-orbital hybrid craft, utilising both jet and rocket engines. Carrying four passengers, the space jet would take off from regular airports using conventional jet engines. Once flying to the needed altitude the rockets would then be fired. After reaching its final altitude of 100 km, passengers would experience weightlessness for three minutes. Tickets were expected to cost up to €200,000 with flights possibly beginning in 2012.^[1] EADS estimated development cost will approach 1 billion Euros. On January 28 2009 EADS Astrium confirmed in March that the program was on hold indefinitely.^[2]

See also

• Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom

References

External links

• Official web site

v t e Space tourism Companies Armadillo Aerospace Bigelow Aerospace Blue Origin EADS Astrium Mojave Aerospace Ventures Orbital Sciences Corporation RocketShip Tours Scaled Composites Space Adventures SpaceX Virgin Galactic XCOR Aerospace Organizations ARCA Association of Autonomous Astronauts Astronaute Club Européen Commercial Spaceflight Federation Copenhagen Suborbitals Space Frontier Foundation Space Tourism Society Successful spacecraft Genesis I Genesis II SpaceShipOne SpaceX Dragon Living in space Commercialization of space Space colonization Space habitat Space station Suborbital spaceplane Space competitions America's Space Prize Ansari X Prize Google Lunar X Prize