28/03/2026
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On 28 March, the European Area Company (ESA) took a significant step ahead in strengthening Europe’s ambition for extra resilient satellite tv for pc navigation, as the primary two satellites of the Celeste in-orbit demonstration mission lifted off from New Zealand aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron. Their mission is to start testing a complementary low Earth orbit layer for Galileo.
The 2 satellites – constructed respectively by GMV and Thales Alenia Area – had been launched at 10:14 CET and separated from the launcher about an hour later. This marks the start of their early operations section, throughout which mission management will get them prepared for all times in orbit.
The 2 satellites will validate core applied sciences and new alerts and repair capabilities and can convey into use the required frequencies in L- and S-band alerts for the mission’s operational section, in adherence to Worldwide Telecommunication Union rules. Extra launches in 2027 will convey the mission to its full configuration of 11 spacecraft in orbit providing a variety of experimentation alternatives in several frequency bands, person environments and purposes.
“With this mission, we’re exploring new frontiers for satellite tv for pc navigation. Celeste will show how a satellite tv for pc navigation constellation in low Earth orbit can complement Europe’s present Galileo system in medium Earth orbit. Celeste was among the many first ESA missions to embrace a New Area-inspired improvement strategy, enabling quicker and extra versatile deployment of satellites and technical capabilities, and finally guaranteeing Europe stays on the forefront of innovation in satellite tv for pc navigation,” stated ESA Director Basic Josef Aschbacher.
“Over the previous twenty years, satellite tv for pc navigation has develop into integral to our society. Galileo and EGNOS are a European success at the moment, fuelling our society, producing financial development whereas guaranteeing our independence and safety. With Celeste, ESA is guaranteeing that Europe continues to pioneer innovation in positioning, navigation and timing. The mission will show how a complementary layer in low Earth orbit can improve Europe’s present navigation methods, making them extra resilient, extra strong, and able to delivering solely new companies,” stated Francisco-Javier Benedicto Ruiz, ESA’s Director of Navigation.
By flying nearer to Earth, Celeste gives the chance for extra strong alerts and new frequencies. The mission will supply an in-orbit take a look at bench for a broad vary of purposes, comparable to enhanced navigation capabilities for autonomous autos, railway, maritime, and aviation, elevated availability in city canyons and distant polar and arctic areas, enhanced positioning and messaging with emergency companies throughout disasters, monitoring of linked units and Web-of-Issues purposes, and even indoor navigation.
Following the demonstration actions, the Celeste in-orbit preparatory (IOP) section, absolutely supported by ESA Member States at CM25, will leverage European trade to validate the applied sciences in-orbit and construct pre-operational infrastructure. In the end, the outcomes of the Celeste mission will put together European trade and help the European Union’s resolution in the direction of the institution of an operational navigation layer in LEO, complementing Galileo and EGNOS, Europe’s present place, navigation and timing methods.
About Celeste
The Celeste mission is ESA’s initiative for LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning Navigation and Timing) and is presently in its in-orbit demonstration section. This primary section includes a demonstration constellation of 11 satellites that can fly in low Earth orbit to check revolutionary alerts throughout varied frequency bands. Its objective is to advance satellite tv for pc navigation ideas for resilient positioning, navigation and timing companies.
The Celeste in-orbit demonstration section was accredited at ESA’s Council at Ministerial Stage of 2022. The fleet is being developed by way of two parallel contracts respectively led by GMV (ES) with OHB (DE) as core accomplice, and by Thales Alenia Area (FR) as prime and Thales Alenia Area (IT) as house section accountable. The 2 consortia contain over 50 entities from greater than 14 European nations.
Celeste was additional expanded at ESA’s Council at Ministerial Stage of 2025 (CM25), in the direction of the implementation of the subsequent section: the LEO-PNT In-Orbit Preparatory section.
Celeste additionally contributes to one of many three core pillars of ESA’s new European Resilience from Area (ERS) initiative, endorsed at CM25. ERS addresses essential safety and resilience wants for Member States whereas laying the groundwork for future European strategic house capabilities.
For extra info, go to www.esa.int/Celeste/.
