The VEGA Group has been awarded a frame contract by the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, to provide services for their navigation activities.
The frame contract, which began on 1 January 2007, is for a three year period, with an option for a further two years. VEGA was awarded the contract, with its subcontractor NSL (UK), on the strength of its experience in navigation software development and support activities, its high-quality staff, strong local management skills and proven capability to support ESA in third party business.
The contract covers various aspects of ESOC's navigation activities, which includes the navigation of satellites in space, as well as involvement in Galileo, the European's first completely civilian positioning system. VEGA's involvement includes manpower support; engineering and operations activities related to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and high-precision orbit determination, as well as instrument validation for Low-Earth Orbiting (LEO) spacecraft. Software development support is planned in the future.
John Auburn, VEGA's Business Development Director for Aerospace said: "VEGA is very pleased to be awarded this frame contract – the first time that the navigation activities have been supported by their own contracts. We have worked in many areas of navigation, especially Galileo, since 1999, which I am sure has contributed to this contract award. VEGA is also one of the founding members of CESAH, the Centre for Satellite Navigation in Hessen, Germany, which is involved in supporting satellite navigation application development initiatives with consultancy, technology and logistics services."
