First Galileo satellite on orbit to demonstrate key technologies(Forwarded)

European Space Agency
Press Release No. 61-2005
Paris, France 28 December 2005

First Galileo satellite on orbit to demonstrate key technologies

The first Galileo demonstrator is in orbit, marking the very first step to
full operability of Europe's new global navigation satellite system, under
a partnership between ESA and the European Commission (EC).

Giove A, the first Galileo in-orbit validation element, was launched today
from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, atop a Soyuz-Fregat vehicle operated by
Starsem. Following a textbook lift-off at 05:19 UTC (06:19 CET), the
Fregat upper stage performed a series of manoeuvres to reach a circular
orbit at an altitude of 23 258 km, inclined at 56 degrees to the Equator,
before safely deploying the satellite at 09:01:39 UTC (10:01:39 CET).

"Years of fruitful cooperation between ESA and the EC have now provided a
new facility in space for improving the life of European citizens on
Earth," said ESA Director General Jean Jacques Dordain congratulating ESA
and industrial teams on the successful launch.

This 600 kg satellite, built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) of
Guildford, in the UK, has a threefold mission. First, it will secure use
of the frequencies allocated by the International Telecommunications Union
(ITU) for the Galileo system. Second, it will demonstrate critical
technologies for the navigation payload of future operational Galileo
satellites. Third, it will characterise the radiation environment of the
orbits planned for the Galileo constellation.

Formerly known as GSTB-V2/A (Galileo System Test Bed Version 2), Giove A
carries two redundant, small-size rubidium atomic clocks, each with a
stability of 10 nanoseconds per day, and two signal generation units, one
able to generate a simple Galileo signal and the other, more
representative Galileo signals. These two signals will be broadcast
through an L-band phased-array antenna designed to cover all of the
visible Earth under the satellite. Two instruments will monitor the types
of radiation to which the satellite is exposed during its two year
mission.

The satellite is under the control of SSTL's own ground station. All
systems are performing well, the solar arrays are deployed and in-orbit
checkout of the satellite has begun. Once the payload is activated, the
Galileo signals broadcast by Giove A will be carefully analysed by ground
stations to make sure they satisfy the criteria of the ITU filings.

First step for Galileo

A second demonstrator satellite, Giove B, built by the European consortium
Galileo Industries, is currently being tested and will be launched later.
It is due to demonstrate the Passive Hydrogen Maser (PHM), which, with a
stability better than 1 nanosecond per day, will be the most accurate
atomic clock ever launched into orbit. Two PHMs will be used as primary
clocks onboard the operational Galileo satellites, with two rubidium
clocks serving as backups.

Subsequently, four operational satellites will be launched to validate the
basic Galileo space and related ground segments. Once this In-Orbit
Validation (IOV) phase is completed, the remaining satellites will be
launched to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC).

Galileo will be Europe's own global navigation satellite system, providing
a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service under civilian
control. It will be inter-operable with the US Global Positioning System
(GPS) and Russia's Global Navigation Satellite System (Glonass), the two
other global satellite navigation systems. Galileo will deliver real-time
positioning accuracy down to the metric range with unrivaled integrity.

Numerous applications are planned for Galileo, including positioning and
derived value-added services for transport by road, rail, air and sea,
fisheries and agriculture, oil prospecting, civil protection activities,
building, public works and telecommunications.

For further information, please contact:

ESA Media Relations Division
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690

Related news

* GIOVE-A on the launch pad; launch rehearsal completed
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMQ7T8A9HE_index_0.html
* GIOVE-A ready to join its Soyuz launcher; launch timeline
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM3BO8A9HE_index_0.html
* Galileo -- a global system
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Galileo_...OD8A9HE_0.html
* GIOVE-A mated with launcher upper stage; launch set for 28 December
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Galileo_...L88A9HE_0.html
* Preparing for launch in Baikonur
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Galileo_...VYVLWFE_0.html
* Galileo satellite prepares for launch
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Galileo_...LWVLWFE_0.html

Related links

* Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU)
http://www.GalileoJU.com
* Galileo website (European Commission)
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy...o/index_en.htm
* Surrey Satellite Technology -- GIOVE-A
http://www.sstl.co.uk/index.php?loc=111
* Baikonur Cosmodrome

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESA_Perm...SA1XDYD_0.html
* Russian launchers

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESA_Perm...IZW4QWD_0.html
* Starsem -- Soyuz launcher
http://www.starsem.com/
* Galileo tour

javascript:window.open('http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/Galileo_tour/galileo.html','','width=750,height=600,left=0,top= 0,resizable=no,menubar=no,toolbar=no,
scrollbars=no,locations=no,status=no'); history.back(-1);

[NOTE: Images supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMSRO8A9HE_index_1.html ]