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
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Galileo
A NEW AGE OF NAVIGATION
Satellite navigation has become part of our daily life. Beyond the transport sector where it enhances safety, efficiency and comfort, it is used in very different areas such as agriculture, rescue operations networks management and banking.
In the early 1990s ESA initiated Research and Development programmes in cooperation with the European Commission and the Civil Aviation community, leading to:
-EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service. Operational since 2011, EGNOS improves the performance of GPS and provides vertical guidance for aviation facilitating, for example, landing in small airports.
- Two test-satellites GIOVE-A and B have demonstrated key technologies in a very specific orbit and environment.
- The first two operational satellites for Galileo, launched in 2011 will be joined by two more in 2012 for a complete In-Orbit Validation and Qualification of the Galileo design.
The fully deployed system will consist of 30 satellites circling Earth at an altitude of 23,000 km and will be operated by a worldwide network of ground stations.
Galileo will be Europe’s own global satellite navigation system, compatible and interoperable with the existing American GPS and Russian GLONASS military-controlled systems. In parallel, ESA’s Research and Development teams are preparing the future of European Navigation through technology studies, test-beds and scientific research.