All four satellites are undergoing preparation for Ariane 5’s next Galileo launch

The four Galileo satellites for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission at the service of Europe’s navigation system are coming together in their flight configuration, while parallel preparations continue with the mission’s heavy-lift launcher.

In the Spaceport’s S1A clean room facility, the four Galileo FOC satellites are prepared for their fit-check evaluation with the mission’s payload dispenser

In the Spaceport’s S1A clean room facility, the four Galileo FOC satellites are prepared for their fit-check evaluation with the mission’s payload dispenser

During pre-flight activity in French Guiana at the Spaceport’s S1A processing facility, these FOC (Full Operational Capability) spacecraft have undergone their fit-checks with the dispenser system to be installed on Ariane 5. Read more…

ESTEC’s new Galileo payload testbed facility

ESA microwave engineers took apart an entire Galileo satellite to reassemble its navigation payload on a laboratory test bench to run it as though it were in orbit – available to investigate the lifetime performance of its component parts, recreate satellite anomalies, and test candidate technologies for Galileo’s future evolution.

ESTEC’s new Galileo Payload Testbed Facility

ESTEC’s new Galileo Payload Testbed Facility

Located in the cleanroom environment of the Galileo Payload Laboratory – part of ESA’s Microwave Lab based at its ESTEC technical centre in the Netherlands – the new Galileo IOV Testbed Facility was inaugurated this week with a ceremony attended by Paul Verhoef, ESA Director of Navigation and Franco Ongaro, ESA Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality. Read more…

Four Galileos plus the Ariane 5 launcher at Europe’s Spaceport for July launch

Galileo satellites 25 and 26 have landed at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, joining their two predecessors ahead of their 25 July launch by Ariane 5.

One of the two Galileo satellites 25 and 26 being unloaded from their Boeing 747 cargo jet at Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport in French Guiana on 1 June 2018. The satellites travel inside protective air-conditioned containers.

One of the two Galileo satellites 25 and 26 being unloaded from their Boeing 747 cargo jet at Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport in French Guiana on 1 June 2018. The satellites travel inside protective air-conditioned containers.

The pair left Luxembourg Airport on a Boeing 747 cargo jet on the morning of 1 June, arriving at Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport in French Guiana that evening. Read more…

Webinar: EGNOS – free accuracy for mapping and GIS applications

The webinar, June 20 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, is organised by EuroGeographics and European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA). The goal of the webinar is to brief users from mapping and GIS communities about EGNOS, the European free augmentation service that improves GPS accuracy up to sub-meter range for mapping and GIS applications. Read more…

World’s first dual-frequency GNSS smartphone hits the market

Mobile brand Xiaomi has launched a dual-frequency GNSS smartphone.

Fitted with a Broadcom BCM47755 chip, the Xiaomi Mi 8 provides up to decimeter-level accuracy for location-based services and vehicle navigation, the company said.

The Mi 8 , providing enhanced performance, offers users better positioning in urban environments

The Mi 8 , providing enhanced performance, offers users better positioning in urban environments

The Mi 8 smartphone represents a breakthrough in GNSS technology as the first commercial deployment of Broadcom’s dual-frequency BCM47755 chip designed for the mass market and introduced in September 2017. Read more…

Orolia secures Galileo contract to supply clocks to 12 more satellites

Orolia announced that its atomic clock solutions have been selected for the Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Under contracts totaling 26 million euros, Orolia will deliver its stable, accurate timing solutions to 12 additional Galileo satellites.

Orolia

Each satellite will carry two Rubidium atomic clocks and two passive Hydrogen Masers, said to be the most stable clock in the world. Under these contracts, Orolia will supply its Spectratime Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard and its Passive Hydrogen Masers physics package for an additional 12 Galileo satellites. These new satellites will reinforce Orolia’s position in the number of active atomic clocks in space, including more than 100 in the Galileo system. Read more…

GSA supporting development of all PRS user segments

Deployment of the Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS) has been ongoing in recent years and the European GNSS Agency (GSA) has been actively contributing to the development of all user segments to ensure the widespread uptake of the service. GSA PRS Service Manager Charles Villie gave participants in the Munich Satellite Navigation Summit on March 7 a status update on the Galileo PRS and outlined plans for the future.

GSA supporting development of all PRS user segments

The Galileo PRS is an encrypted navigation service that is designed to be more resistant to jamming, involuntary interference and spoofing than other services. The launch of Galileo initial services at the end of 2016 also marked the start of the initial Galileo PRS service phase, during which receivers are being tested and all declared PRS functionalities and infrastructure are functional and operational. Read more…