N° 33–2012: Deployment of Europe’s Galileo constellation continues

The Soyuz ST-B launcher, operated by Arianespace, lifted off at 18:15 GMT (20:15 CEST) from the Guiana Space Centre.

All the stages of the Soyuz vehicle performed as planned and the Fregat-MT upper stage released the Galileo satellites into their targeted orbit close to 23 200 km altitude, 3 hours 45 minutes after liftoff.

These satellites were built by a consortium led by Astrium as prime contractor, with Thales Alenia Space in charge of assembly, integration and testing.

The operations are managed by SpaceOpal a joint company of the DLR German Aerospace Center and Italy’s Telespazio, with the early operations of the satellites controlled by a joint ESA and CNES French space agency team in Toulouse, France.

After initial checks, they will be handed over to the Galileo Control Centres in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, and Fucino, Italy, for testing before they are commissioned for the Galileo service validation phase.

From a performance point of view, these In-Orbit Validation (IOV) satellites are the same as the forthcoming satellites.

With four identical satellites now in orbit, ESA will be able to demonstrate the performance of the Galileo positioning system fully before the deployment of the remaining operational satellites.

“Since the first launch a year ago, Galileo’s technology has proven itself in orbit,” said Didier Faivre, ESA’s Director of Galileo Program and Navigation-related activities.

“Thanks to the satellites launched today, the testing phase will be completed, and clear the way for rapid full-scale deployment of the constellation.

“By late 2014, 18 satellites are scheduled to have been launched, by which time early services to Europeans can begin.”

Galileo’s Full Operational Capability (FOC) will be reached with 30 satellites (including the four IOVs and in-orbit spares) in 2018.

About Galileo

Galileo is Europe’s own global satellite navigation system. It will consist of 30 satellites and their associated ground infrastructure.

The definition, development and IOV phase of the Galileo programme are carried out by ESA, and co-funded by ESA and the European Commission. This phase leads to a mini-constellation of four satellites and a reduced ground segment dedicated to the validation of the overall concept.

The four satellites launched during the IOV phase are the nucleus of the constellation that will then be extended to reach its FOC.

The FOC phase is fully funded by the European Commission. The Commission and ESA have signed a delegation agreement by which ESA acts as design and procurement agent on behalf of the Commission.

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 19 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, of whom 17 are Member States of the EU. ESA has Cooperation Agreements with nine other Member States of the EU and is negotiating an Agreement with the one remaining (Bulgaria).

Poland is in the process of becoming ESA’s 20th Member State. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.

ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.

Today, it launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space.

Learn more at: www.esa.int

For further information, please contact:

ESA Media Relations Office

Communication Department

Tel: +33 1 53 69 72 99

Fax: +33 1 53 69 76 90

Email: media@esa.int

 

For further information:

ESA Media Relations Office

Tel: +33(0)1.5369.7299

Fax: +33(0)1.5369.7690