Two new Galileo satellites enter service

The addition of SAT 33 and SAT 34 to the Galileo constellation reinforces the world’s most superior world navigation satellite tv for pc system, guaranteeing enhanced system redundancy and steady knowledge provision to billions of customers worldwide.

Over the previous months, mission operators on the Galileo Management Centre in Germany (GCC-D) have been busy getting ready the newest two Galileo satellites for operational service.

Launched on 17 December, the mission benefitted from probably the most exact orbital injection ever achieved for Galileo, a near-perfect insertion that confirmed the excessive efficiency of Ariane 6. Galileo is the one programme to have flown satellites of the identical mass to the identical orbit with 4 launchers, utilizing Soyuz, Ariane 5, Falcon 9 and now Ariane 6.

Satellite tv for pc separation occurred about 4 hours after launch, adopted by sign acquisition and photo voltaic array deployment, marking the start of the important launch and early operations phase (LEOP). Throughout this section, GCC-D groups, beneath the accountability of the EU Company for the Area Programme (EUSPA), commissioned the satellites’ important subsystems, manoeuvred them to level in the direction of the Earth and began an orbital drift in the direction of their goal constellation slots.

About seven days after launch, the LEOP was accomplished and the satellites declared match for all times into area. The commissioning section was prepared to start.

Closing orbit and full commissioning

Early this yr, the satellites transmitted their first ‘signal-in-space’, the primary broadcast of the navigation payload, to the Galileo in-orbit testing station, situated at ESA-ESEC, in Redu, Belgium.

This step opened the payload in-orbit testing section, which ensures that the brand new satellites will contribute positively to the worldwide efficiency of the Galileo service. Whereas the GCC-D led satellite tv for pc operations, ESA designed the take a look at circumstances and payload configurations executed all through the take a look at marketing campaign.

Within the meantime, groups configured and validated the navigation payload, atomic clocks, transponders and safety features. In parallel, operators manoeuvred the satellites to their exact orbital slots at 23 222 km.

In Could 2026, the EU Area Programme Safety Accreditation Board authorised the entry into service of SAT 33. This was adopted by that of SAT 34 on 23 July 2026, marking the  full deployment of the L14 satellites throughout the Galileo constellation.

About Galileo

Galileo is the world’s most exact satellite tv for pc navigation system, serving over 5 billion smartphone customers across the globe since coming into Open Service in 2016. All smartphones offered within the European Single Market at the moment are assured Galileo-enabled. As well as, Galileo is making a distinction throughout the fields of rail, maritime, agriculture, monetary timing companies and rescue operations.

A flagship programme of the EU, Galileo is managed and funded by the European Fee. Since its inception, ESA leads the design, improvement and qualification of the area and floor methods, in addition to procuring launches. ESA can be entrusted with analysis and improvement actions for the way forward for Galileo throughout the EU programme Horizon Europe.

The EU Company for the Area Programme (EUSPA) acts because the service supplier, overseeing the market and utility wants and shutting the loop with customers.