Galileo getting ready

Date: Tue, Jul 12, 2011 | 06:30 - 06:45 GMT | 08:30 - 08:45 CEST

Type: ESA TV Exchange

Format: 16:9

End of October a Soyuz launcher, the first ever from Europe's space port in French Guyane, will put into orbit the first two satellites of the Galileo Constellation.

After GIOVE A and B, launched in 2005 and 2008, to secure the Galileo frequencies and test the new technologies needed for satellite navigation, Galileo is now getting ready with the launch of this new phase of Galileo.

This "In Orbit Validation" phase means what it says: checking on orbit the European positioning system.

This story shows the Galileo satellites as they are assembled and tested in Rome before being shipped to their launch site.

It includes interviews of Giuliano Gatti, ESA Galileo Procurement Manager (in english and italian), Nigel Watts, ESA IOV Procurement Manager in english, Peter Honold, Astrium (in english and german) and Eugenia Licitri Thales Alenia (in english and italian).

More backgroud information can be found on: http://www.esa.int/esaNA/galileo.html

Satellite Parameters: Reception Parameters for 4.8 degrees East Satellite Sirius 4 Transponder B28 Centre Frequency 12245.340 MHz Polarisation Offset 0 degrees Polarisation State Vertical FEC Rate 3/4*188/204 Symbolrate 27.5 Megasymbols/s