Augsburg/Main/Kourou, September 13, 2018. The new European Ariane 6 launch vehicle is to embark on its maiden flight from the Kourou space center in French-Guyana in July 2020. MT Aerospace AG of Augsburg, Germany, a subsidiary of the technology group OHB SE, and its Mainz-based subsidiary MT Mechatronics GmbH are constructing the mechanical launch facilities (ELA 4) in Kourou in a contract for the French space agency CNES.
MT Mechatronics has been working on engineering and constructing the launching table since 2016 in a project worth € 24 million. With the transfer of the ARIANE 6 launching table from its assembly site to its final position, an important milestone has been achieved in the development of the overall Ariane 6 system.
Two special transporters were imported from Europe to carry the launching table, which has a weight of around 700 tons, over a distance of some 150 meters to its final position. With the achievement of this milestone for one of the major components of the launch facilities, Europe has taken a further major step forward to complete the ground segment for the new launch vehicle.
In addition to the launching table, the CNES contract covers the design and the construction of the mobile pallet systems used to bring the solid-propellant boosters to the launching site, the exhaust gas stream deflector and the umbilical tower with a height of roughly 66 meters.
MT Aerospace and MT Mechatronics have been closely involved in the construction of all launch facilities for the six ARIANE generations as well as the SOYUZ launcher at the space center in Kourou for over 40 years.
Contact: Nivart Holsworth/ PR & Communication / Tel.: +49 821 505 1033 / E-Mail: pr@mt-aerospace.de
About MT Aerospace
MT Aerospace is an internationally respected company in the aerospace industry with around 700 employees at sites in Augsburg, Mainz (Germany), Cagliari (Italy) and Kourou (French Guyana). As a member of the listed European space and technology group OHB SE (Prime Standard, ISIN: DE0005936124), it develops and produces key components for the European Ariane launch vehicle, the Airbus fleet, space vehicles and flights. MT Aerospace is the technological leader in light-weight metal and composite engineering and, with a work share of around 10 percent, is the largest non-French components supplier for the Ariane program
About MT Mechatronics
MT Mechatronics in Mainz emerged from the Antenna division of MAN Gustavsburg. Today we belong to MT Aerospace AG and OHB SE and, with more than 55 years of experience in the field, specialize in turnkey communication antennae, optical and radio telescopes, industrial plants, mechatronic equipment for research facilities, launch systems for European space programs and medical apparatus for cancer therapy. Our range of products and services encompasses the entire supply chain from design to development, manufacturing, system integration and commissioning, training, servicing and plant operation.
Contact for media representatives:
Marianne Radel
Head of Corporate Communications
Phone: +49 421 2020 9159
Email: marianne.radel@ohb.de
Contact for investors and analysts:
Marcel Dietz
Investor Relations
Phone: +49 421 2020 6426
Email: ir@ohb.de