• Finmeccanica’s role in the most ambitious Earth-observation programme to date is expanding
• Finmeccanica will provide radiometers for the programme’s Sentinel-3C and 3D satellites to measure sea and land temperature, helping to control global warming
• Telespazio will be responsible for managing the ground segment operations of the whole Sentinel-3 mission

Two new contracts totalling €138 million have been signed as part of Finmeccanica space activities relating to the Copernicus programme’s Sentinel-3 mission, led by the European Commission in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and with the contribution of the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Copernicus will monitor the environment, help mitigate the effects of climate change and provide data that can help improve the management of humanitarian emergencies, natural disasters and public security.

The first contract, worth €97 million and lasting six years, was signed by Finmeccanica’s Airborne and Space Systems Division with Thales Alenia Space (67% owned by Thales, 33% by Finmeccanica); it provides for the supply of infrared radiometers for the Sentinel-3C and 3D satellites. Finmeccanica will lead an international consortium that will develop these SLSTRs (Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometers), which are able to measure the temperature of the Earth and its oceans at a range of 800km while precise to tenths of a degree. They will provide crucial information for climatology and meteorological applications and aid in the fight against global warming.

The second contract, worth €41 million, was signed by Telespazio (67% owned by Finmeccanica, 33% by Thales) with the European Space Agency (ESA). According to the agreement, Telespazio will lead a group of European companies in the management of operations for the ground segment of the Sentinel-3 mission, including maintenance and development activities, until 2021. Through these services, users - from land management organisations to civil protection agencies - will be able to access important environmental data as soon as three hours after it is acquired by the satellites.