Letter from the Chairman

As this is the first occasion on which I am able to introduce the Annual Review of INSA, a company I know well from my past responsibilities and previously having served on the Board of Directors, it is very satisfying to be able to pay tribute to the excellent evolution of the activities of the company in 2009, as well as the positive results obtained.

INSA has not only grown during the year in terms of personnel and revenues, but also in the diversification of its activity, both by taking part in different projects and incorporating new clients. In a difficult economic and financial environment, its hard work has meant the company was able to prepare unfailingly for the effects of the current crisis situation in Spain and in the countries around us.

In my dual role as Director General of INTA and Chairman of the Board of INSA, I can confirm that INSA is indispensable to the performance of many INTA activities, such as the operation of the Maspalomas Station (just to cite one example) and takes part in other programmes which involve the indisputable enrichment of the activities and capabilities of the Institute. As such, my purpose is to consolidate the collaboration between INSA and INTA so that INSA can also strengthen its presence in programmes outside INTA, such that INTA has a constantly improving facility available to it for carrying out its activities and projects.

Finally, I’d like to record my appreciation for the efforts of all the INSA staff in achieving the positive results obtained in 2009.

Mr. Jaime Denis Zambrana

Chairman

Report of the Executive Vice-Chairman

2009 ended up being a positive year in the evolution of INSA. In numerical terms, the company earned more, over 46 million euros of revenues, and created 50 new posts in its workforce, increasing operating revenue with respect to the previous year by 4.3%. However, it should be pointed out, although the positive results are encouraging in themselves, the qualitative improvement in the company’s activities concerned with the diversification of activities, the award of long-sought-after contracts, as well as improved internal processes, are further reasons for optimism.

The highlight of 2009 was the incorporation of new activities and clients in INSA. In the area of technical assistance, INSA began 2009 providing consulting services to the La Marañosa Technological Institute (ITM), which brings together defence R&D centres in a single organization while multiplying the capabilities of each centre individually. INSA contributes to this interesting initiative giving technological support to the carrying out of projects entrusted to it by ITM through scientific, engineering and technical teams specialized in various areas of the Institute’s operations, similar to the service which INSA has given to INTA and other defence entities. Elsewhere, at the end of the year, the company began participating in the technological Justice Modernization Plan in the EJIS (Judicial Interoperability and Security Scheme) framework programme. This action will mean the transfer of INSA’s existing capacities to other sectors of activity, affording at the same time the opportunity to access new business lines.

The management activities, maintenance and operation of space complexes were able to celebrate two historic milestones in 2009: the 40th anniversary both of the landing of man on the moon, which happened with the full participation of the old station at Fresnedillas, whose personnel who later were incorporated into INSA, and the agreement to transfer the responsibility for managing the Robledo centre to Spanish hands; then INTA Stations which constituted the embryo of what is today INSA. Forty years after these important events, the services provided to NASA from Robledo continue to be at the technological cutting-edge, as illustrated in 2009 by the modernization work carried out in the Station control centre, which has already come into service in 2010 and indicates the challenge ahead completely to remodel the heart of the complex without any interruption to our support for NASA’s Solar System exploration craft.

In October 2009, the SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) Satellite, of the European Space Agency (ESA), was launched, dedicated to the study of indispensable parameters for knowing the Earth’s climate, such as the humidity of soil and the salinity of the oceans. INSA is in charge of this mission as far as the operation of the data reception and treatment centre is concerned, located in the ESA installations at Villafranca del Castillo (ESAC), consolidating its presence in this increasingly important ESA centre. Meanwhile, INSA has also contributed to the development of these installations, particularly the added-value data processing centre (CP34). Also in 2009, its contract for support activities at the Canary Islands Space Centre was renewed to receive data from Earth observation missions and ESA scientific control missions.

Engineering activities continue with positive results in all operating areas. In 2009, the common earth segment development phase for the Ingenio and Paz national observation satellites began; they will be centered at the INTA installations in Torrejón de Ardoz. INSA started up the development of the common Earth station for the data control and reception in 2009, as well as Phase B of the Paz satellite ground segment. During the year, it also began extending the secure satellite communications network with Spanish embassies of the Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and Defence, Ministries. INSA continued to develop its projects and demonstrations of applications for satellite observation of emergency management, especially in the field of forest fires, in the framework of the ESA and EU R&D programmes. Also, the great effort made in R&D projects must be mentioned, which has attracted a significant volume of public aid received in competitive areas, particularly in the area of the study and application of antenna arrays for Space-Earth communication.

The organization and resources of INSA also progressed positively in 2009, highlighting the improvement and modernization of the administrative and financial management systems and the consolidation of selection processes, health and safety at work risk prevention and human resources administration.

2009 can be summarized, therefore, as a year of healthy growth and enrichment of the activity of the company in a context of improved labour relations. The latter is of great merit in itself, when you consider that the company is undoubtedly blessed with such a magnificent team of professionals.

Mr. Miguel Lens Astray

Executive Vice-Chairman