Vitrociset

Vitrociset’s activity in the space market dates back to 1982 with the awarding of a turnkey contract for the ESA (European Space Agency) Redu tracking station during its process of corporate diversification designed to extend its core business to new emerging sectors.

The gradual and constant expansion of its offer to the key players of the sector (ASI, CNES, Arianespace, MOD and Satellite Operators) has required the diversification of its products and services, such as the design and development of mission-critical systems - an example of which is the development of essential components of the User Segment in the HELIOS mission, as well as of the SICRAL satellite communication system and the ESA Simulators and Control Centres.

Since the early 1990s, the company has been active: 
    - in the launch site of French Guyana
    - in all operating centres of the ESA (ESOC, ESTEC, ESRIN)
    - in the ground segment of the HELIOS and subsequently SICRAL missions
    - at the CNES, in Toulouse, for the control of ATV missions (now in the start-up phase)

The strongly European focus and competitiveness of the Space market are such that the participation in joint ventures with foreign companies further qualifies Vitrociset’s industrial offer.

Since the mid 1990s, Vitrociset has chosen to provide its services directly to the end-customers of European public institutions, and was awarded important projects in the context of the European Commission’s Framework Programmes (in the Environment and Transport sectors). Today, this legacy has been instrumental in the design of Satellite Navigation Systems for maritime and air transport based on GALILEO and EGNOS and the development of multi-technology applications (EO, Positioning/Navigation, and Telecommunications).

The reliability and quality demonstrated by Vitrociset in this market have entailed a further and important growth of its role in the design and integration of Major Systems, with the acceptance of full responsibilities in the deployment of the VEGA carrier launch site in Kourou, French Guyana, as well as of significant components of the Soyouz launcher.