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Next two Galileo satellites reach Europe's Spaceport
Artist’s view of a Galileo Full Operational Capability satellite, with platforms manufactured by OHB in Bremen, Germany, and navigation payloads coming from Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd in Guildford, UK. The first two Galileo Full Operational Capability satellites were launched together aboard a Soyuz rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on 22 August 2014, joining the four Galileo satellites already in orbit. A second pair was launched on 28 March 2015. Some 22 FOC satellites are being manufactured. Credit: ESA–J. Huart, 2014
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Artist’s view of a Galileo Full Operational Capability satellite, with platforms manufactured by OHB in Bremen, Germany, and navigation payloads coming from Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd in Guildford, UK. The first two Galileo Full Operational Capability satellites were launched together aboard a Soyuz rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on 22 August 2014, joining the four Galileo satellites already in orbit. A second pair was launched on 28 March 2015. Some 22 FOC satellites are being manufactured. Credit: ESA–J. Huart, 2014
Europe's ninth and tenth Galileo satellites have crossed the Atlantic, touching down in French Guiana ahead of their joint launch this September.
The delicate navigation satellites made their journey within environmentally controlled containers, having passed a gamut of tests to confirm their readiness for space.
The pair left ESA's ESTEC technical centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, last Thursday by road for to Luxembourg Findel Airport.
On Friday morning the duo flew by Luxair 747 aircraft to Cayenne–Félix Eboué Airport in French Guiana, touching down at around midday local time.
They were then taken by road to the Guiana Space Centre, before being unboxed within an air-conditioned cleanroom, marking the start of their launch campaign.
September's launch on a Soyuz rocket will see Europe's own satnav constellation reach double figures. These are Flight Models 5 and 6 of the Full Operational Capability version.
Two more satellites are still at ESTEC, midway through being tested. Fourteen more are being built at OHB in Bremen, Germany, with their navigation payloads coming from Surrey Space Satellite Technology in Guildford, UK, and parts supplied from across Europe.
About Galileo
Europe's satnav system will provide high-quality positioning, navigation and timing services to users across the world.
The ninth and tenth Galileo satellites arrived at Cayenne–Félix Eboué Airport in French Guiana at around midday local time on 24 July 2015. Credit: ESA–P. Muller
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The ninth and tenth Galileo satellites arrived at Cayenne–Félix Eboué Airport in French Guiana at around midday local time on 24 July 2015. Credit: ESA–P. Muller
The full operational constellation will consist of 24 satellites plus six spares circling Earth in three orbits at 23 222 km altitude. Galileo will be interoperable with the US GPS and Russian Glonass systems, offering improved combined performance to users.
Galileo is a partnership between the European Commission and ESA, with a delegation agreement by which ESA acts as design and procurement agent on behalf of the Commission.
Initial services are due to begin next year.
The ninth and tenth Galileo satellites were transported from the airport to the S1A payload preparation building of the Guiana Space Centre on the afternoon of 24 July 2015. Credit: ESA–P.Muller
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The ninth and tenth Galileo satellites were transported from the airport to the S1A payload preparation building of the Guiana Space Centre on the afternoon of 24 July 2015. Credit: ESA–P.Muller