Galileo Soyuz Launch: Latest from Kourou

Date: Wed, Sep 09, 2015 GMT

FTP only

Type: ESA TV Exchange

Format: 16:9

After the successful launch last March, another pair of satellites for Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system will be launched on 10 September as deployment of the 30-satellite network is fully into deployment.

Galileo Sat 9 & 10 are currently being prepared for their launch on top a Soyuz rocket.

Lift off is scheduled at 02:08GMT on 11 September (04:08 CEST); 23:08 local time, 10 September) from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

With this launch Europe’s own satnav constellation will reach double figures and 1/3 of the system will be up and running.

As Europe’s own global navigation system, Galileo will provide a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service under civilian control. It will consist of 30 satellites and their ground infrastructure with stations deployed worldwide.

Galileo is currently in a so called Full Operational Capability phase which is managed and fully funded by the European Commission. The Commission and the European Space Agency have signed a delegation agreement by which ESA acts as design and procurement agent on behalf of the Commission.

More information at: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Navigation