MERLIN SECURES CONTRACT WITH ESA

Merlin Communications, a leading global communications facilities management company, has signed a prestigious five year contract with the European Space Agency (ESA), to operate and maintain their tracking, telemetry reception and command transmission satellite ground station in Kourou, French Guyana.
The Kourou ground station is a key part of the ESA network and, as the most western ESA facility, is critical during the early phases of satellite launches. Merlin will be actively involved both in supporting satellite launches, which occur 2-3 times a year, and in routine mission support.
The contract commences on 1st January 2002 and will see Merlin immediately involved in preparations for the launch of an ESA mission. Merlin were awarded the contract in competition with not only the incumbent contractor, but also other facilities management contractors interested in adding this important contract to their portfolio.
Merlin's Director of Global Facilities, Kevin Cawood said: "We are extremely pleased to be awarded this contract and look forward to working in
partnership with ESA to enhance the service offered by the Kourou facility, through our proven approach to supporting critical communication infrastructure. The signing of this contract sees us add to our growing portfolio of critical communications facilities and welcomes another prestigious customer to Merlin's impressive customer portfolio".
(GB)