A pair of Galileo satellites were launched into medium Earth orbit from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday (Sept. 18). This launch marked the 13th in the Galileo programme, expanding the constellation...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
A pair of Galileo satellites were launched into medium Earth orbit from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday (Sept. 18). This launch marked the 13th in the Galileo programme, expanding the constellation to include satellites number 31 and 32, designated FM26 and FM32.
The new satellites will be positioned at 23,222 km and will undergo testing before becoming operational. Javier Benedicto, ESA Director of Navigation, stated, “With the deployment of these two satellites, Galileo completes its constellation as designed, reaching the required operational satellites plus one spare per orbital plane.”
“The remaining 6 Galileo First Generation satellites are expected to be deployed in 2025 and 2026 for increased robustness and performance, solidifying the resilience and reliability of Galileo and enabling uninterrupted delivery of the world’s most precise navigation,” he added.
ESA, along with manufacturer OHB, has developed and tested 38 Galileo satellites since the programme's inception. To date, 32 have been launched, with the remaining six scheduled for deployment in 2025 and 2026. These will be launched in pairs using ESA's new Ariane 6 rocket, following its successful inaugural flight in July. Additionally, Galileo's Second Generation (G2) satellites, currently under development by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space, will also be launched by ESA's heavy-lift rocket.
The programme has seen significant progress in 2024. In April, satellites 29 and 30 were launched and entered service in September after a successful test phase. Galileo also introduced its new Public Regulated Service (PRS) signals in April, which provide encrypted navigation for authorised users and enhance Europe's autonomy in satellite navigation.
Furthermore, in April, Galileo's ground segment, Europe's largest and a key infrastructure, was upgraded without impacting users. This upgrade is part of preparations for the Galileo Second Generation, which will feature digital navigation payloads, electric propulsion, enhanced navigation antennas, inter-satellite links, and advanced atomic clocks.
Since its Open Service launch in 2017, Galileo has become the world's most precise satellite navigation system, serving over four billion smartphone users globally. All smartphones sold in the European Single Market are now Galileo-enabled, and the system supports various sectors, including rail, maritime, agriculture, financial timing services, and rescue operations.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has received EMAR/FR 145 Maintenance Organisation Approval from the French Military Continuing Airworthiness Authority,…
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has placed an order for 18 Boeing 737-8 and 12 Boeing 737-10 aircraft to modernise Malaysia…
Liebherr and SkyWest Airlines have signed an agreement for the overhaul of landing gear systems on SkyWest’s fleet of Embraer…
EDGE Group entities POWERTECH and ADASI have agreed on the first order for POWERTECH’s P145i combustion engine. The engine, designed…
Safran Electronics & Defense has secured a contract from the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) to supply Multi-Mission Parachutes to…
Spectra Group (UK) Ltd has been assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in improving their strategic communications capabilities,…
Sky Power International has supplied propulsion units for the Nimkii 42-S (N42-S), an unmanned aerial system (UAS) developed by Canadian…
Constellation Technologies & Operations (CTO) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with telecom infrastructure company TDF to collaborate on…
Embraer will participate in the Avalon Airshow in Australia from 25 to 30 March 2025, highlighting its role in the…
AAR CORP. has announced the appointment of Hema Widhani to its Board of Directors, effective 18 March 2025. Her election…
Teledyne FLIR OEM, a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, has announced the release of Prism SKR, an embedded software designed…
SITA and Orange Business have renewed their long-standing partnership for another five years, continuing a collaboration that began in 2001.…
ZeroAvia has appointed former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official Billy Nolen as a Senior Strategy and Regulatory Advisor. In this…
Altair and JetZero have partnered to advance the development of a commercial blended wing aircraft. JetZero aims to reduce fuel…
The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), part of the Directorate of Defence Research & Development (DDR&D) within the Ministry of…
EDGE and CMN NAVAL have agreed to form a new joint venture, AD NAVAL (ADN), based in Abu Dhabi, to…
Embraer has successfully completed the initial structural fatigue tests of the wing that will be used in its New Technologies…
Israel's ministry of defence has issued a tender for 6,000 first person view (FPV) drones in recognitiion of the Israeli…
Israeli company InfiniDome has developed small, light modules that protect critical systems from GPS jammimg. According to the company its…
The Israeli Airforce (IAF) has developed a system that enables its F-35s to carry JDAM bombs on its wings. Lockheed…
The US State Department is offering up to $15 million for information that could disrupt financial networks supporting the drone-production…
HENSOLDT has entered into a partnership with TUM Venture Labs, an initiative led by the Technical University of Munich and…
Startical, a collaboration between ENAIRE and Indra, has launched its first satellite, IOD-1 (In-Orbit Demonstrator-1), as part of the Transporter-13…
Korean Air is set to improve its services with an upgrade to airport lounges and the introduction of Premium Economy…
Thales and Malaysia Airlines have entered into a long-term agreement for the provision of avionics component availability and repair services…
Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. and Elbit Systems Ltd. have secured a contract to provide an Integrated Maritime Electronic Warfare…
The Indonesian government has announced that GMF AeroAsia, a subsidiary of the national carrier Garuda Indonesia, will establish an aircraft…
JetBlu and its fuel partners marked the first-ever regular supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for commercial air travel in…
Overwatch, a British aerospace and defence group specialising in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has entered into a collaboration agreement with…
AEGEAN, Greece's largest airline, has confirmed an order for eight more Airbus A321neo aircraft to bolster its network and support…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.