05/09/2024
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The 2 new Galileo satellites launched in April have entered service, finishing the second of three constellation planes. With each addition to the constellation, the precision, availability and robustness of the Galileo sign is improved. The subsequent launch is deliberate within the coming weeks and the remaining six Galileo First Era satellites will be a part of the constellation within the subsequent years.
Three months after their launch from Cape Canaveral, Galileo satellites 29 and 30 have reached their goal positions at an altitude of 23 222 km, the place they’ve been totally examined and declared operational.
Each satellites have been deployed on the identical orbital airplane, one of many three that make up the Galileo constellation. Now two of the three Galileo orbital planes are totally populated, bringing the constellation one launch away from completion. The subsequent couple of Galileo satellites are deliberate to launch within the coming weeks from the Kennedy House Centre in Florida onboard a Falcon 9.
The 2 new satellites are lively and offering navigation alerts to customers. Their addition to the constellation barely will increase the accuracy of the system and additional ensures the supply and robustness of Galileo alerts.
To know extra concerning the Galileo constellation standing, seek the advice of the European GNSS Service Centre.
Testing in orbit
The satellites have been launched on 28 April by SpaceX beneath contract with ESA. A Falcon 9 rocket injected the Galileo satellites into medium Earth orbit, not removed from their remaining place. In the course of the first hours after launch, the Mission Management Workforce made certain that the satellites had efficiently accomplished the initialization sequence, that the photo voltaic arrays have been accurately deployed and in a position to generate energy and that the community of floor stations might observe and management them accurately.
Early operations have been executed by the Galileo Service Operator, supported by a staff of round 30 satellite tv for pc specialists from ESA and satellite tv for pc producer OHB on web site on the Galileo Management Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, beneath the accountability of EUSPA.
The drift section then began, with groups on floor guiding manoeuvres to deliver the satellites to their remaining positions, reached on 24 June.
During the last months, each element on the satellites has been examined to ensure nothing was broken by the extreme launch situations. Each platform and payload, together with antennas and clocks, have been examined.
On 21 August, ESA, OHB and payload producer SSTL assessed the in-orbit take a look at outcomes and concluded that the satellites had not suffered any degradation throughout launch. ESA, in collaboration with EUSPA, validated the satellites’ efficiency at system stage. In mild of those outcomes, the Security Accreditation Board has given the inexperienced mild for each satellites to start nominal operations.
This success is a results of the joint efforts of ESA, EUSPA, the European Fee, producer OHB, payload producer SSTL groups at Galileo Management Centres and the Safety Accreditation Board.
About Galileo
Galileo is presently the world’s most exact satellite tv for pc navigation system, serving over 4 billion smartphone customers across the globe since coming into Open Service in 2017. All smartphones bought within the European Single Market are actually assured Galileo-enabled. As well as, Galileo is making a distinction throughout the fields of rail, maritime, agriculture, monetary timing providers and rescue operations.
A flagship programme of the EU, Galileo is managed and funded by the European Fee. Since its inception, ESA, as system growth prime and design authority, leads the design, growth and qualification of the area and floor methods, and procures launch providers. ESA can be entrusted with analysis and growth actions for the way forward for Galileo inside the EU programme Horizon Europe. The EU Company for the House Programme (EUSPA) acts because the system prime for the operational system supplier, making certain exploitation and secure and safe supply of providers whereas overseeing market calls for and utility wants.
