Galileo satellite constellation expands with two new additions

Written by Copernical Team Tuesday, 30 April 2024 20:06

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Paris, France (SPX) Apr 30, 2024

The Galileo navigation system has expanded its constellation with the addition of two new satellites, launched early on Sunday, 28 April, at 01:34 BST/02:34 CEST. This latest expansion brings the total to 30 satellites, enhancing Galileo's capabilities in terms of reliability, robustness, and precision, which benefits billions of global users. Galileo, operational since 2016 and recognized

Galileo satellite constellation expands with two new additions
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Apr 30, 2024

The Galileo navigation system has expanded its constellation with the addition of two new satellites, launched early on Sunday, 28 April, at 01:34 BST/02:34 CEST. This latest expansion brings the total to 30 satellites, enhancing Galileo's capabilities in terms of reliability, robustness, and precision, which benefits billions of global users.

Galileo, operational since 2016 and recognized as the most precise navigation system globally, plays a vital role in various sectors including rail, maritime, agriculture, financial services, and rescue operations. The system supports the European Union's economy significantly, with 10% of the EU's annual GDP relying on satellite navigation.

Since the program's inception, the European Space Agency (ESA) and European industry have developed and tested 38 Galileo satellites under the EU's Galileo program. This includes four In-Orbit-Validation satellites and 26 Full Operation Capability satellites, deployed through 12 launches.

Recent developments include the introduction of new Public Regulated Service (PRS) signals, an encrypted navigation service tailored for governmental use and sensitive applications, enhancing Europe's autonomy and resilience in satellite navigation.

The remaining eight First Generation Galileo satellites are scheduled for imminent launch, paving the way for the introduction of a Second Generation (G2) fleet in 2026, which will feature advancements such as electric propulsion and more powerful navigation antennas, thanks to the efforts of ESA and European industry partners.