Thanks on your service, Galileo GSAT0104

For a big and long-lasting constellation like Galileo, which serves as a crucial public infrastructure and goals to ship uninterrupted providers over a long time, decommissioning actions are as important as launches. To run easily, the fleet wants steady replenishment, and due to this fact disposing of satellites is just not solely about making house safer, however about making house for brand spanking new satellites.

In October 2023, a board chaired by the EU Company for the House Programme (EUSPA) with the European House Company (ESA) and the European Fee (EC) concluded for the primary time to retire a Galileo satellite tv for pc. Decommissioning actions for GSAT0104 started in March 2024 and have been accomplished in April 2025.

GSAT0104 is likely one of the 38 Galileo First Technology satellites designed, developed and examined by ESA, along with producers EADS Astrium (4 In-Orbit Validation satellites) and OHB (34 Full Operational Functionality satellites). After this decommissioning, the constellation offers identical stage efficiency providers with lively satellites in all its prime slots, plus three lively spare satellites. Moreover, new satellites will proceed to affix the fleet, with six First Technology satellites able to launch and twelve Second Technology ones in growth. 

Defending house atmosphere

Sustainability in and from house is a core precedence for ESA, that promotes a accountable use of house to learn each society and the atmosphere. Central to this dedication is decreasing house particles, a critical world hazard threatening present and future missions, and the important providers they supply.

To deal with the rising house particles difficulty, ESA has set an bold aim of web zero house air pollution for brand spanking new missions by 2030. This goal is backed by sustainable design practices, rigorous particles mitigation insurance policies and end-of-life satellite tv for pc disposal protocols.

ESA, as system growth prime and design authority for Galileo, has aligned Galileo’s house phase administration with the company’s Space Debris Mitigation Policy and Requirements, exhibiting dedication to sustainable house actions and setting an instance as a key European flagship programme. Galileo satellite tv for pc decommissioning operations are coordinated by EUSPA.

When a Galileo satellite tv for pc reaches finish of service, it’s to be moved to a better and secure orbit and passivated by depleting all its sources of vitality. Galileo’s graveyard orbits are positioned at the very least 300 km above the lively constellation and are designed to stay steady for a really very long time. It is a huge area that doesn’t intervene with Galileo, geostationary satellites or some other constellation for a whole bunch of years.

Due to the propellant reserves in GSAT0104, it was attainable to put it 700 km above the Galileo operational constellation on a really steady disposal orbit. Then, the satellite tv for pc tank was depleted and the satellite tv for pc passivated by eradicating all inside vitality, reminiscent of battery cost. Future decommissioned Galileo satellites can be disposed at barely totally different altitudes to take care of a secure distance between them.

Graveyard orbits are the usual disposal technique for satellites in medium Earth and geostationary orbits, the place Earth re-entry is mostly not possible.

Tidying up the constellation

Defending house atmosphere is barely one of many causes to correctly eliminate satellites that not serve the constellation or are susceptible to failure. “In Galileo we have to hold our orbits clear and secure to assist the continual renewal of the fleet. A wholesome constellation is required to make sure optimum efficiency and dependable service provision for billions of customers worldwide,” explains Riccardo Di Corato, Head of the Galileo Constellation Evaluation Unit.

All satellites have a design lifetime after which their techniques are anticipated to be much less dependable or efficient (12 years within the case of Galileo First Technology and 15 years for Second Technology satellites). Galileo companions assess the situation and contribution of older Galileo satellites yearly and decide both to increase service by one 12 months or to decommission.

“It’s essential to make sure that the removing of a satellite tv for pc from the constellation can happen whereas key elements like perspective management, thrusters and telecommunication techniques are nonetheless out there. If we’re assured that the disposal of the satellite tv for pc will be carried out efficiently later sooner or later, we lengthen its use for so long as attainable”, provides Di Corato.

A final service by historic GSAT0104

GSAT0104 was launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 12 October 2012. It was the fourth and final Galileo In-Orbit Validation satellite tv for pc, enabling the primary dedication of a floor location utilizing solely Galileo satellites.

This satellite tv for pc supplied navigation providers throughout years earlier than shifting to serve Search and Rescue after a malfunction within the L-band antenna. In 2021, it was relocated from a major to a spare slot to make room for one of many new satellites launched in April 2024. It continued offering service from this place till decommissioning actions began.

GSAT0104 is once more concerned in a Galileo ‘first’. Its decommissioning has served as a mannequin of duty in house actions for constellations to comply with.

Furthermore, it has supplied programme companions important expertise that can show essential as decommissioning efforts turn into extra frequent within the years to come back.

The 2024 satellite tv for pc end-of-life overview board for the remaining three Galileo IOV satellites resolved to increase their lifetime by at the very least one 12 months, till October 2025. Two Galileo IOV satellites have already exceeded their design lifetime by one 12 months and the third has simply reached it. All of them are nonetheless offering glorious navigation efficiency.

The service efficiency of Galileo satellites is independently monitored by the Galileo Reference Centre (GRC) and will be consulted at GNSS Service Centre (GSC).

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 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 house and floor techniques. 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, guaranteeing exploitation and secure and safe supply of providers whereas overseeing market calls for and software wants.

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