ARIANE 6 launching facilities: development of mechanical systems fully on schedule

Mainz, January 27, 2017. MT Mechatronics GmbH, Mainz (a subsidiary of OHB SE, Prime Standard, ISIN DE0005936124) has today successfully completed the first project review of the mechanical systems for the launching facilities for the new ARIANE 6. The contract had been awarded by the French space agency CNES on October 7, 2016 via the parent company MT Aerospace AG.

MT Mechatronics is responsible for planning, supplying and starting up the mechanical systems at the space center in Kourou, French-Guyana. The facilities are to be handed over to CNES and the European Space Agency ESA in May 2018. Adherence to this schedule is crucial for the planned first deployment of the new European launcher ARIANE 6 in 2020.

During a three-day review, specialists from ESA, CNES as well as Airbus Safran Launchers, which is responsible for developing ARIANE 6, carefully scrutinized the progress that MT Mechatronics had achieved on the project. 'As the first design review has been passed on the scheduled date, the foundations have now been laid for the participating project teams to work towards successfully tackling the further technical and timing challenges posed by the ambitious ARIANE 6 program,' says Holger Brössel, the responsible program manager at MT Aerospace.

'This successful performance again testifies to the strength and importance of German SMEs in the European space industry,' adds Hans Steininger, CEO of MT Aerospace AG.

MT Mechatronics and MT Aerospace can look back on a history of more than 40 years and major involvement in the construction of the ground facilities at the European Space Center in Kourou. This new contract marks a further chapter in the tradition and excellence of the two companies in European space business.

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