European Association for Astronomy Education

Source: ESA

The first satellite of Galileo’s next phase has arrived at ESA’s technical heart in the Netherlands for a rigorous set of tests to check its readiness for launch.(read more)

Source: ESA

Kerguelen ground station.
Image credits:ESA/Fermin Alvarez Lopez.

A worldwide chain of Galileo ground stations on some of the remotest sites on Earth is nearing completion ahead of this year’s launch of two more satellites.(read more)

Source: ESA

Galileo satellite. Image credit: OHB.

ESA today signed a contract to build a further eight Galileo satellites, alongside other agreements to modify Europe’s Ariane 5 launcher to carry four navigation satellites at a time.(read more)

Source: ESA

Artist's impression of the Galileo IOV satellite.
Image credits:ESA.

Europe’s Galileo system has passed its latest milestone, transmitting its very first test navigation signal back to Earth.(read more)

Source: ESA

Artist's impression of the first two of four Galileo In-Orbit Validation satellites.
Credits: ESA - P. Carril

Europe’s first two Galileo satellites have reached their final operating orbits, opening the way for activating and testing their navigation payloads.(read more)

Source: ESA

Soyuz lift off. Image credits: ESA/CNES/ARIANESPACE - S. Corvaja, 2011.

The first pair of satellites for Europe's Galileo global navigation satellite system has been lofted into orbit by the first Russian Soyuz vehicle ever launched from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana in a milestone mission. (read more)

Source: ESA

Testing of components of the Galileo system.
Image credits: ESA - S. Corvaja, 2011.

The first Soyuz flight from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana will carry the first two satellites of Europe’s Galileo navigation system into orbit is scheduled for 20 October. ESA has created a website to follow the launch. (see website)

Source: ESA Online Videos

Galileo will use the most accurate atomic clock in space to provide the most accurate positioning services. In fact, time is the key for the precision of satellite navigation systems.

Source: ESA Online Videos

At the end of October a Soyuz will be launched from Europe's Space Port in French Guiana for the first time, carrying into orbit the first pair of so-called IOV satellites. IOV stand for In-Orbit Validation: it's the phase when the Galileo system will be assessed through tests using the operations of two experimental satellites (GIOVE A and B already on orbit) and a mini constellation of four operational satellites and their related ground infrastructure. These first 2 Galileo satellites will be sent to the first orbital plane on Medium earth Orbit, followed by another 2 in the second orbital plane next year.

Source: ESA videos

The Galileo constellation.

At the 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.(view video page)

Source: ESA

Two Galileo satellites.Image credits: © ESA - P. Carril

As Europe prepares for October’s launch of the first Galileo satellites, a worldwide ground network is being put in place. Contracts signed today at the Paris Air & Space Show cover satellite control and the systems needed to generate Galileo services.(read more)

Source: ESA PR 16-2011

Two Galileo In-Orbit Validation satellites. Credit: ESA

The European Space Agency, Arianespace and the European Commission announced today that the launch of the first two satellites of Europe's global navigation satellite system is planned to take place on 20 October.

This will be the first of a series of Galileo satellite launches by Arianespace from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

The announcement follows a detailed review held on 12 May, under the chairmanship of the Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) and with the participation of Arianespace and industrial prime contractors, which concluded that the space and ground elements will be ready for a launch in October.

The two Galileo satellites will be deployed using a Soyuz launcher. The October launch will mark the inaugural Soyuz flight from its new launch facilities in French Guiana, built in the framework of a programme of the European Space Agency.

Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of ESA, pointed out the significance of this launch: "The October launch will be a perfect example of European and international cooperation. On one side we will have the first operational Galileo satellites in orbit, resulting from the cooperation between the European Union and ESA. (read more)