In 2010 Alex sistemi SpA consolidated partnership with two major international operators in the Defence and Space sector, Thales Alenia Space and Turkish Aerospace Industries.
Thales Alenia Space and the Turkish Aerospace Industries companies chose Alex sistemi SpA for cooperation as a reliable partner for the implementation of study, analysis and engineering projects, and also for production, testing and certification of products in the frame of the AlphaSat, CYGNUS, GALILEO and GÖKTÜRK programmes.
Specifically Alex sistemi SpA has been successful in designing various types of MGSE (Mechanical Ground Support Equipment) for the integration, certification and transport of satellites and space station modules.

ALPHASAT – ALPHABUS PROGRAMME


In the framework of the ALPHASAT-ALPHABUS Programme (international programme of cooperation between Thales Alenia Space Italy, Thales Alenia Space France and Astrium Satellites UK), Thales Alenia Space Italy entrusted Alex sistemi SpA to design, produce and test the STC (Spacecraft Transport Container) and its HVRD (Horizontal and Vertical Rotating Dolly) for integration with the satellite.
The Alphabus programme is being implemented in France by a joint programme team from Thales Alenia Space and EADS Astrium Satellites.The programme development is also supported jointly by ESA (European Space Agency) and CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales of France).

The Alphabus platform is designed for communications satellites with payload power in the range 12-18 kW. Satellites based on Alphabus will have a launch mass in the range 6 to 8 tonnes: 40% higher than that of Spacebus 4000.

Thales Alenia Space also entrusted Alex sistemi SpA with the task of designing most of the Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE) for the CYGNUS programme.

CYGNUS – PCM PROGRAMME

Orbital and NASA’s Johnson Space Center are jointly developing a new space transportation system in a three-year cooperative programme to support the International Space Station (ISS).

Alex sistemi SpA is the partner of the Thales Alenia Space for designing and producing three types of MGSE that are used during installation, testing and transport of the PCM Module.

TRANSPORT- HANDLING ADAPTER (THA)

The THA shall be used to support the loaded/unloaded (with/without cargo elements) PCM F/H, both in Standard and Enhanced stretched version, during all integration, handling/hoisting and transportation operations in TASI (Thales Alenia Space Italy) and Orbital facilities.

RACK/BAGS HANDLING/INSTALLATION DEVICE (RPID)

The RPID shall be used to:

  • install the PCM secondary structure (i.e. the racks and the pallets), entering the module from Aft Access Closure side
  • install/remove the AAC Door
  • install/remove the Payload Bags and the MDL (TBC) in/from the PCM, entering the module from the CBM/Hatch side (TBC)

TRANSPORT- STORAGE CONTAINER (TSC)

The TSC shall provide a safe mean of transportation and storage of the PCM F/H, protecting it against the external natural environment and the induced handling and transportation mechanical environment.
The TSC shall be used to transport the PCM F/H with the X axis in horizontal position, by road within Europe and by road and aircraft to the American Orbital delivery site.
Furthermore the TSC shall be used for the global leak test of the PCM F/H.

TRANSPORT- HANDLING ADAPTER (THA)

The THA shall be used to support the loaded/unloaded (with/without cargo elements) PCM F/H, both in Standard and Enhanced stretched version, during all integration, handling/hoisting and transportation operations in TASI (Thales Alenia Space Italy) and Orbital facilities.

RACK/BAGS HANDLING/INSTALLATION DEVICE (RPID)

The RPID shall be used to:

  • install the PCM secondary structure (i.e. the racks and the pallets), entering the module from Aft Access Closure side
  • install/remove the AAC Door
  • install/remove the Payload Bags and the MDL (TBC) in/from the PCM, entering the module from the CBM/Hatch side (TBC)

TRANSPORT- STORAGE CONTAINER (TSC)

The TSC shall provide a safe mean of transportation and storage of the PCM F/H, protecting it against the external natural environment and the induced handling and transportation mechanical environment.
The TSC shall be used to transport the PCM F/H with the X axis in horizontal position, by road within Europe and by road and aircraft to the American Orbital delivery site.
Furthermore the TSC shall be used for the global leak test of the PCM F/H