Astrium

Astrium
Industry Space industry, Space tourism
Predecessor EADS SPACE
Founded December 2006
Founder(s) EADS
Headquarters Paris, France
Employees 15,000
Parent EADS
Website http://www.astrium.eads.net/

Astrium is an aerospace subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and which provides civil and defence space systems and services. In 2008, Astrium had a turnover of €4.3 billion and 15,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands.[1]

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Its three main areas of activity are :

Space tourism

In June 2007, EADS Astrium announced it would be entering the space tourism sector. On June 20 2007 the company unveiled a model of the space jet, a one-stage sub-orbital hybrid craft, utilising both jet and rocket engines. Carrying four passengers, the space jet would take off from regular airports using conventional jet engines. Once flying to the needed altitude the rockets would then be fired. After reaching its final altitude of 100 km, passengers would experience weightlessness for three minutes. Tickets were expected to cost up to €200,000 with flights possibly beginning in 2012.[2] EADS estimated development cost will approach 1 billion Euros. On January 28 2009 EADS Astrium confirmed in March that the program was on hold indefinitely.[3]

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