[Satellite TODAY 07-21-10]  German manufacturer OHB Technology has acquired Thales Alenia Space Antwerp in Belgium from Thales Alenia Space France SAS for an undisclosed amount, OHB announced July 20.
     Thales Alenia Space Antwerp, a developer and manufacturer of ground stations equipments used in telecommunications and Earth observation, generated sales of about 10 million euros ($12.9 million) in 2009. The company also builds the network interconnecting the ground stations of the future European satellite-based navigation system, Galileo, of which OHB is a primary development contractor.
    OHB said the acquisition would allow the company to pursue its European growth strategy with regard to European Space Agency (ESA) member-state initiatives. Belgium is the ESA’s fifth-largest contributor.