Skip to main content

October take off for Galileo satellites

The launch of the first two operational satellites of the EU's global navigation satellite system will take place on 20 October, the European Commission has announced. This is just the first of a series of launches due to take off from Europe's Space Port in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch of the Galileo satellites at an altitude of 23,600km will lead to the provision of initial satellite navigation services in 2014. Successive launches will complete the constellation by 2019.
May 16, 2012 Read time: 1 min
The launch of the first two operational satellites of the EU's global navigation satellite system will take place on 20 October, the 1690 European Commission has announced. This is just the first of a series of launches due to take off from Europe's Space Port in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch of the Galileo satellites at an altitude of 23,600km will lead to the provision of initial satellite navigation services in 2014. Successive launches will complete the constellation by 2019.

The decision to fix the date of the first launch follows a detailed assessment review under the chairmanship of the European Space Agency. It concluded that the space and ground segment components as well as operational preparedness are progressing according to schedule.

Related Content

  • Russia's high speed toll link - aims and opportunities
    July 31, 2012
    Construction of a new toll link between the Russian capital of Moscow and the country's second-largest city, the port of St Petersburg, is due to start in 2012. Here, ITS International takes look at the project to date and the opportunities for foreign companies to get involved. The construction of a new toll link between the Russian capital Moscow and the country's second-largest city St Petersburg has a number of aims. It will lead to the creation of a high-speed vehicular link between the two which will
  • Does enforcement merit a place in the EU's ITS action Plan?
    February 3, 2012
    Colin Wilson, IBI Group, looks at the implications for enforcement of the European Commission's new Action Plan for the Deployment of ITS in Europe
  • Automation and connectivity on stage in Brussels
    September 21, 2015
    Automation and connectivity take centre stage in Brussels during a series of events to be held in the city during the week of 20-23 October. The week starts off with the FIA Policy Conference, Driving change, connecting mobility, on 20 October. FIA Region will host policymakers and stakeholders to discuss new trends in mobility, while also engaging with how these changes will impact areas such as data protection and liability. On 21 October, the plenary meeting of the iMobility Forum takes place unde
  • u-blox to demonstrate Glonass positioning
    April 23, 2012
    Switzerland-headquartered u-blox has announced the successful demonstration of an enhanced LEA-6H GPS module which also supports Glonass navigation. The Russian Glonass satellite system is an alternative as well as complementary system to the US-based GPS. It currently has 22 deployed satellites, with the complete constellation of 24 satellites needed for complete global coverage scheduled for the end of this year.