Galileo Update

Contract signing gives Galileo system its operators

ESA signed a contract with Spaceopal, the company providing ground-based services
needed to operate the Galileo constellation once it has been fully deployed. The
agreement was signed by Rene Oosterlinck, ESA’s Director of the Galileo Programme
and Navigation-related activities, and by Francesco D’Amore and Hubertus Wanke,
both Managing Directors of Spaceopal in the presence of Diego Canga Fano,
Deputy Head of Cabinet to European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani.

The agreement is the fourth of six Galileo Work Packages (WPs) identified by
the European Commission and ESA as necessary to reach Galileo’s Full
Operational Capability (FOC) to be signed. This WP6 Framework Contract is
dedicated to preparation activities as well as all the operations services the fullydeployed
Galileo system requires. WP1 for system support, WP4 covering spacecraft
and WP5 dedicated to launch services have already been signed. Now only WP2,
for ground mission, and WP3 covering ground control still to be finalised.

WP6 Work Order 1 covers all activities related to the completion of the Galileo
In Orbit Validation (IOV) activities – the first four Galileo satellites due to launch
next year. WP6 Work Order 2 is dedicated to the implementation and activities of an
integrated engineering team supporting ESA for system operations. WP6 Work
Order 3 deals with the completion of deployment of operations for Galileo’s
FOC, scheduled for 2013. WP6 Work Order 4 covers the full deployment
of the two Galileo Ground Control Centres, in Germany at Oberpfaffenhofen
and Italy at Fucino.
www.esa.int

SES to contribute to Galileo operations

SES S.A. has become a key partner in the future operations of Galileo satellite
navigation system. ASTRA TechCom Services, an SES company, has signed
a contract with Spaceopal, the company providing ground-based services required
to operate the Galileo constellation until it has been fully deployed. The
agreement was signed in Munich by Gerhard Bethscheider, Managing Director
of ASTRA TechCom Services and by Francesco D’Amore and Hubertus Wanke,
both Managing Directors of Spaceopal. ASTRA TechCom Services’ contribution
to WP6 covers engineering support to Spaceopal and a leading role in the In
Orbit Testing (IOT) of the Galileo FOC Satellites. To this end, ASTRA TechCom
Services will work through its subsidiary, Redu Space Services, to utilise the Galileo
IOT infrastructure in Redu to deliver this critical service.
www.ses-astra.com

T-Systems takes over logistics systems for Galileo

Deutsche Teleom’s T-Systems corporate customer division has won a contract
to manage all global logistics processes for Galileo. In addition, T-Systems
is helping the ESA to build a global network. T-Systems has developed
and is operating the maintenance and logistics system based on the Integrated
Logistic Support (ILS) process. It is also helping the ESA connect 30 Earth
stations worldwide with the two Galileo control centres in Munich, Germany, and
Fucino, Italy.
www.telecompaper.com