OHB Sweden AB, a subsidiary of the space and technology group OHB SE, and Airbus Defence and Space SAS, one of Europe's leading Large Scale Integrators and Prime Contractor, have signed a contract for the delivery of a propulsion subsystem for the ESA Ariel mission.
OHB Sweden continues its path in becoming Europe’s leader on high end propulsion systems. In addition to ESA missions such as Solar Orbiter (launched 2020), Biomass, Euclid and PLATO, OHB Sweden has started the work to design, manufacture, integrate, test and deliver a monopropellant sub-system to the ESA Cosmic Vision Plan 4th medium-sized (M4) mission Ariel. The contract is carried out under a program of and funded by the European Space Agency.
Ariel - Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey.
This mission will study how planets and planetary systems form and evolve by surveying a large, diverse sample of approximately 1000 extrasolar planets, simultaneously in visible and infrared wavelengths. It is the first mission dedicated to measuring the chemical composition and thermal structures of hundreds of transiting exoplanets, enabling planetary science far beyond the boundaries of the Solar System.
Ariel is planned to be launched in 2029.
Benoit Mathieu (Managing Director OHB Sweden): “With this new contract, OHB Sweden demonstrates again to be a trusted propulsion subsystem supplier to Airbus Defence and Space and ESA. Together with Solar Orbiter, Euclid and PLATO, it means that OHB Sweden is a partner on many of the scientific ESA missions. We are proud to be part of this program that will enable humankind to increase our knowledge and understanding of the universe that we are part of”.
About OHB Sweden
OHB Sweden is a provider of complete space missions, satellites as well as spacecraft subsystems. With more than 30 years of proven success from a wide range of space missions in low and geostationary orbit as well as spacecraft for interplanetary missions, OHB Sweden has acquired a first-class reputation offering reliable and innovative solutions to its customers. The key expertise from OHB Sweden lies in small satellites, AOCS and propulsion subsystems.
Read more about the Ariel Programme here.
Read more from ESA on Ariel here.
