On tonight’s launch from the Guiana Space Center, Arianespace will orbit the two latest Galileo satellites. Carried out on behalf of the European Commission, under a European Space Agency (ESA) contract, this launch will orbit the ninth and tenth Galileo FOC satellites.
While waiting for the launch enjoy these pics from the European Space Centre thanks to CNES.
Galileo 9 & 10 arrival – Container openning
Satellite fuelling (I)
Satellite fuelling (II)
Following liftoff from the Guiana Space Center, the powered phase of the lower three Soyuz stages will last about nine minutes. The third stage of the launcher will then be separated from the upper composite, comprising the Fregat upper stage and the Galileo satellites 9 & 10. The three lower stages and the fairing will fall back into the sea.
After a first burn, the upper composite is spun up during a ballistic phase lasting about 3 hours and 15 minutes. Then, Fregat will ignite its own engine to bring the upper composite to a transfert orbit above the Earth. At a pre-determined point of this orbit, Fregat will ignite a second burn lasting 4 minutes to reach the circular orbit of separation.
At the end of the mission, the Fregat upper stage will be passivated. The Galileo satellites will then lower their altitude in order to reach their operational orbit.
Next we present a couple of recent videos taken in the European Space Centre in Kourou (French Guiana), where the Galileo 9 & 10 Soyuz VS12 launch campaign is explained by Jean-Claude Chiarini (ESA Mission Director) and Thierry Wilmart (Arianespace Mission Director).
Galileo satellites 9 and 10 are scheduled to lift off at 02:08 GMT (04:08 CEST) on 11 September from Europe’s Spaceport.
On September 11, 2015, the 9th and 10th satellites for the Galileo Constellation will be launched on top of a Soyuz from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou.With this launch one third of the Galileo satellites will be in orbit proving that the building of the Galileo programme is well underway. 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. So far Galileo is working beyond expectation and now return of experience can also be taken onto account. This video shows preparations of both Galileo satellites and Soyuz launcher in Kourou, it includes an interview with Javier Benedicto, Galileo Project Manager.
When the next pair of Galileo satellites is boosted into orbit next Friday, a team of mission control experts in Darmstadt, Germany, will spring into action, working around the clock to bring the duo through their critical first days in space.
Galileo satellites 9 and 10 are scheduled to lift off at 02:08 GMT (04:08 CEST) on 11 September from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on top of a Soyuz rocket.
This will be the fifth Galileo launch, set to bring the number of satellites in space up to 10. Two more satellites are planned to be launched by year end. Read more…
Europe’s ninth and tenth Galileo satellites have been secured on top of their Fregat upper stage in preparation for launch next week.
Galileo 9 and 10 are due for launch atop a Soyuz rocket at 02:08 GMT on 11 September (04:08 CEST; 23:08 local time, 10 September) from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Having been attached to their carrier last week, the pair of fully fuelled satellites was carefully lowered onto the waiting upper stage.
This latest part of the launch campaign took place on Wednesday, 2 September in the 3SB preparation building of the Guiana Space Centre. Read more…
The next two satellites in Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system will be launched together on 11 September, taking its orbital constellation a step closer to initial services. Media are invited to take part in an audio briefing on 10 September.
Galileos 9/10 are scheduled to lift off at 02:08 GMT on 11 September (04:08 CEST; 23:08 local time, 10 September) from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on top of a Soyuz rocket. They are expected to become operational, after initial in-orbit testing, later in the autumn. Read more…