The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
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A qualification model of the Galileo dispenser fitted with one Galileo engineering model on each side, for testing on the QUAD shaker at the ESTEC Test Centre.
When Galileo launches in 2011, this ‘dispenser’ supporting structure will hold the twin satellites firmly in place under the Soyuz fairing during launch, having already provided connection to power and data links during the pre-launch phases on the ground.
The dispenser will help the satellites endure the loads and vibrations of launch. Then, some four hours into flight at an altitude of 23 000 km, the dispenser will deploy the satellites into orbit by firing a pyrotechnic separation system. A distancing system ensures their release in opposing directions from the dispenser.