Air Transport

Although the space sector has been struggling elsewhere in Europe, in Spain a burst of investment from the government elected in 2004 has lifted prospects.

In 2004, Madrid’s industry minister announced a 17% increase in spending on space projects, taking the overall budget up to €190 million ($225 million). In the previous year, Spain saw the output of its space sector drop by 5%, mainly due to the worldwide drop in demand for satellites.

In total, Spain’s space sector had revenues of €329 million in 2004, the last year of statistics available, with €122 million from satellites, €34 million from launchers, €64 million from ground equipment and €109 million for services. Of that, €206 million was exported and €123 million was domestic sales. Around 2,200 people work in the industry, most of them in manufacturing.

As for other countries, the Galileo pan-European navigation project is spawning plenty of opportunities and Spain is benefiting from contracts for test satellites and the first four constellation spacecraft.

Spanish venture Galileo Sistemas y Servicios (GSS) is a member of the Galileo Industries consortium that is building the second Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element satellite GIOVE-B, which will be launched in the second half of the year.

GSS is itself a consortium of Spanish companies such as Alcatel Alenia Space España, satellite telecommunications operator Hispasat, GMV and EADS.

And, while the Galileo project headquarters is to be in Toulouse and the operations company in London, a back-up centre for the two control centres in Germany and Italy will be in Spain.

The country is also involved in the Vega launcher programme. Although Italy pays for 65% of its cost, Spain is one of six other investors, along with Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

ROB COPPINGER / LONDON