This night (at 00:50 am CEST) saw the latest launch of two Galileo satellites into orbit, marking another successful mission in the collaboration between the European Commission, EUSPA and ESA.
Launched on 18 Sept. thanks to Falcon 9, under an ESA contract, the pair of Launch13 Galileo satellites (SAT31, SAT32) have now entered the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) on their way to their final position 23,220km above Earth. Photo credit: SpaceX
October 2011 was an important month for the Galileo programme. That’s when the first two operational Galileo satellites (GSAT0101 and GSAT0102) were launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Since then, the Galileo constellation has been progressively growing with more satellites being added.
Today – less than 15 years after that inaugural launch – two new satellites have joined the Galileo constellation, bringing the total number of operated satellites in orbit to 32.
Successful Launch and Early Orbit Phase
Launched on 18 September thanks to Falcon 9, under an ESA contract, the pair of Launch 13 (L13) Galileo satellites (SAT31 and SAT32) have now entered the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) on their way to their final position 23,220 km above Earth. Both satellites will be positioned in Galileo Plane A, with one allocated to prime slot A2 and the other to auxiliary slot A17.
The vital LEOP stage is conducted by EUSPA from the Galileo Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, with the support of SpaceOpal, the Galileo Service Operations provider and experts from ESA, the Galileo System Design Authority, and OHB, the Satellites Manufacturer.
“This new Galileo launch is a necessary step to continue serving billions of users, enabling precise navigation, enhancing transportation and ensuring efficient search and rescue missions. Galileo's success is a tribute to the continuous effort of all the EU Space stakeholders,” says EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa. “For EUSPA, once again, we are demonstrating our commitment to deliver safe and secure Galileo services.
Several months will be required to complete all necessary validations and fully integrate the new satellites into the Galileo constellation. The detailed steps of the integration process can be found here.
Want to learn more about the evolution of the Galileo constellation? Be sure to check out the European GNSS Service Centre website, where you can follow the constellation’s orbital parameters and get unique insights on the allocation of the Galileo fleet.
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