Soyuz lifts of from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana - Credits: ESA–S. Corvaja, 2012
The third and fourth satellites of Europe’s Galileo global navigation satellite system were lofted into orbit on 12 October by a Soyuz rocket. They joined the first pair of satellites launched a year ago to complete the validation phase of the Galileo programme.
With four satellites now in orbit, the European Space Agency (ESA) will be able to demonstrate the performance of the new positioning system fully before the deployment of the remaining satellites.
“Since the first launch a year ago, Galileo’s technology has proven itself in orbit,” said Didier Faivre, ESA’s director of the Galileo programme. “Thanks to the satellites launched today, the testing phase will be completed, and clear the way for rapid full-scale deployment of the constellation. By late 2014, 18 satellites are scheduled to have been launched, by which time early services to Europeans can begin.”
Galileo’s complete constellation will be reached with 30 satellites in 2018.
With four satellites now in orbit, the European Space Agency (ESA) will be able to demonstrate the performance of the new positioning system fully before the deployment of the remaining satellites.
“Since the first launch a year ago, Galileo’s technology has proven itself in orbit,” said Didier Faivre, ESA’s director of the Galileo programme. “Thanks to the satellites launched today, the testing phase will be completed, and clear the way for rapid full-scale deployment of the constellation. By late 2014, 18 satellites are scheduled to have been launched, by which time early services to Europeans can begin.”
Galileo’s complete constellation will be reached with 30 satellites in 2018.
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