Galileo Update

Next Galileo satellite reaches French Guiana launch site

The next Galileo navigation satellite has touched down at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, to begin preparations for its launch in October. These third and fourth Galileo ‘In-Orbit Validation’ (IOV) satellites are due to be launched aboard a Soyuz ST-B vehicle in October. These new satellites will join the first two Galileo satellites – launched last year – in medium-Earth orbit at 23 222 km.
This will mark a significant step in Europe’s programme because it will complete the deployment of infrastructure required for the IOV phase and will allow for the first time a computation of on-ground position based solely on Galileo satellites. http://www.spacedaily.com

Pre-launch verifi cations underway with initial Galileo satellite

Europe’s Galileo Flight Model #3 (FM3) satellite is undergoing checkout at the Spaceport in preparation for launch along with its “sister” FM4 co-passenger on Arianespace’s next Soyuz mission from French Guiana, which is targeted for the second half of 2012. Initial activity with FM3 in the Spaceport’s S1B clean room facility includes propulsion sub-system testing and a fit check with hardware for the dual-satellite payload arrangement on Soyuz. It was delivered last week, arriving aboard a chartered cargo jetliner from Europe. http://rpdefense.over-blog.com

Galileo Satellite Navigation Agency moved to Prague

The European GNSS1 Agency (GSA) will inaugurate its new premises soon in Prague, in the presence of Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, in charge of Industry and Enterprise and Minister of Transport Pavel Dobeš. Previously headquartered provisionally in Brussels, the GSA has moved its seat to Prague over this summer, as had been agreed by the EU Heads of State and Government on 10 December 2010. http://europa.eu