Together with market development and security accreditation, the operation of the Galileo Security Monitoring Centre (GSMC) is one of the core activities entrusted to the GSA (European GNSS Agency) in its Founding Regulation. In particular, the GSMC fulfils a key role in ensuring the security of the Galileo system. Read more…
Doresa and Milena, the fifth and sixth Galileo satellites, have been in a safe state since 28 August, fully under control from ESA’s centre in Darmstadt, Germany, despite having been released on 22 August into lower and elliptical orbits instead of the expected circular orbits.
The potential of exploiting the satellites to maximum advantage, despite their unplanned injection orbits and within the limited propulsion capabilities, is being investigated. Read more…
Rockwell Collins, a pioneer in the development of commercial and military navigation technology over the past 35 years, has successfully received and tracked a Galileo satellite signal using a prototype Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver designed for secure military use.
“This milestone reinforces our belief that Rockwell Collins is uniquely positioned to produce a navigation receiver that will meet global needs,” said John Borghese, vice president of the Advanced Technology Center for Rockwell Collins. Read more…
The Soyuz launch vehicle family has provided reliable and efficient launch services since the start of space exploration. Soyuz rockets, which launched both the first artificial satellite and the first man into space, have been credited with more than 1,825 launches to date. Today, Soyuz is used for manned and unmanned flights to the International Space Station, as well as Russian government launches, and commercial launches with Arianespace as launch operator. Read more…
Galileo SATs 5-6 are scheduled to lift off at 12:31 GMT (14:31 CEST, 09:31 local time) on 21 August from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on top of a Soyuz rocket.
You can follow free live videostream of the launch on: ESA TV and Arianespace TV
and on the Twitter accounts: @ESA, @Arianespace, @GalileoGNSS and the hashtag #Galileo Read more…
Final functional testing of Galileo satellites has been completed at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
The fuelling of the two satellites, allowing them to fine-tune their orbits and maintain their altitude over the course of their 12-year lifetimes, took place on 7–8 August. Read more…
The next pair of Galileo satellites are due to be launched together on a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana on 21 August, advancing the deployment of Europe’s own satellite navigation constellation.
Following launch, the most crucial point in the flight comes when the two satellites separate from their upper stage and the Launch and Early Operations (LEOP) phase begins, run from ESA’s Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany. Read more…