Jacques van Oene
November 12th 05, 03:00 PM
First Galileo satellites named 'GIOVE'
9 November 2005
ESA PR 51-2005.
GIOVE - standing for 'Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element' - is the name
that has been chosen for the two satellites which are currently being
prepared to take the first step of the In-Orbit Validation phase towards
full deployment of Galileo, the European satellite navigation system.
The name GIOVE was announced by Ms Karla Peijs, the Dutch Minister of
Transport, Public Works & Water Management, on Wednesday 9 November, at
ESA's ESTEC centre in Noordwijk (The Netherlands).
GIOVE A, the first of the two satellites, was presented to the media while
undergoing final preparations at the ESTEC test facilities prior to being
sent to the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, from where it will be
launched by a Soyuz rocket at the end of December 2005. The second, GIOVE B,
will be launched later in 2006, also from Baikonur.
Naming the satellites GIOVE pays fitting tribute to the achievements of
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) not only in the field of astronomy but also
navigation. On 7 January 1610, as one of the first to turn his telescope to
the sky, the famous scientist discovered the first four satellites of the
planet Jupiter. These were later named Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
Galileo realised that the formation of these four satellites, whose eclipses
are frequent and visible, provided a clock whose face could be seen from
every point on the Earth.
Tables describing the motion of the first four Jovian satellites to be
discovered were used to determine longitude at sea and on land. Galileo's
method of determining longitude by observing the eclipses of Jovian
satellites heralded a revolution in navigation, geodesy and cartography in
the 17th and 18th Centuries.
Almost 400 years on, another revolution in navigation is on its way, with
the advent of Europe's Galileo positioning infrastructure. GIOVE satellites
A and B mark the start of in-orbit validation of this new system. They will
be followed by four other satellites, to be launched in 2008.
GIOVE and its four successors will pave the way for the deployment of the
complete Galileo constellation of 30 satellites. This will provide
unprecedented satellite positioning, navigation and timing capabilities in
the 21st Century.
Background notes for editors
This first step in the Galileo programme, known as the Galileo System Test
Bed (GSTB), involves the launch of two satellites for in-orbit testing of
critical technologies such as atomic clocks and novel navigation signals
specifically developed for the programme. It will also secure the
frequencies allocated to Galileo by the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU).
Until now going under the more technical names of GSTB-V2/A and GSTB-V2/B,
these first two GIOVE satellites are elements of the In-Orbit Validation
phase of the Galileo programme. GIOVE A (GSTB-V2/A) is at present undergoing
its final environmental test campaign on the facilities at the Agency's
ESTEC test centre. The second, GIOVE B (GSTB-V2/B), is undergoing final
integration tests on the Alenia Spazio facilities in Rome (Italy).
Thus, Galileo, Europe's innovative satellite navigation system, is getting
ready for launch, preparing to deliver an innovative and advanced civil
global positioning service for the benefit of citizens throughout Europe and
worldwide.
GIOVE A is being developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (UK). It is
designed to fulfil the following main objectives: secure frequency filings,
validate key technologies such as rubidium clocks, characterise the orbital
environment and deliver signal broadcasting using two transmission channels
in parallel.
GIOVE B, which is designed to fulfil similar objectives, is being developed
by Galileo Industries, a European consortium comprising Alcatel Space
Industries (F), Alenia Spazio (I), Astrium GmbH (D), Astrium Ltd (UK) and
Galileo Sistemas y Servicios (E). This satellite also provides complementary
features such as a passive hydrogen maser clock and simultaneous
three-channel transmission.
The Galileo programme is being implemented in three phases:
Definition
Development and In-Orbit Validation
Full Deployment and Operations
The forthcoming In-Orbit Validation phase will be completed with the
deployment of a constellation of four satellites (the minimum number needed
to guarantee the exact position and time at test locations), along with the
provision of a number of associated ground stations. Eventually, the Full
Deployment phase will cover the manufacturing and launch of the 26
additional satellites completing the Galileo constellation plus the
completion of the ground segment comprising an extensive network of stations
and service centres.
Galileo is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European
Space Agency. It is the first satellite positioning and navigation system
specifically designed for civilian purposes and will offer state-of-the-art
services with outstanding performance guaranteeing accuracy, integrity,
continuity and availability.
--
--------------------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
9 November 2005
ESA PR 51-2005.
GIOVE - standing for 'Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element' - is the name
that has been chosen for the two satellites which are currently being
prepared to take the first step of the In-Orbit Validation phase towards
full deployment of Galileo, the European satellite navigation system.
The name GIOVE was announced by Ms Karla Peijs, the Dutch Minister of
Transport, Public Works & Water Management, on Wednesday 9 November, at
ESA's ESTEC centre in Noordwijk (The Netherlands).
GIOVE A, the first of the two satellites, was presented to the media while
undergoing final preparations at the ESTEC test facilities prior to being
sent to the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, from where it will be
launched by a Soyuz rocket at the end of December 2005. The second, GIOVE B,
will be launched later in 2006, also from Baikonur.
Naming the satellites GIOVE pays fitting tribute to the achievements of
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) not only in the field of astronomy but also
navigation. On 7 January 1610, as one of the first to turn his telescope to
the sky, the famous scientist discovered the first four satellites of the
planet Jupiter. These were later named Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
Galileo realised that the formation of these four satellites, whose eclipses
are frequent and visible, provided a clock whose face could be seen from
every point on the Earth.
Tables describing the motion of the first four Jovian satellites to be
discovered were used to determine longitude at sea and on land. Galileo's
method of determining longitude by observing the eclipses of Jovian
satellites heralded a revolution in navigation, geodesy and cartography in
the 17th and 18th Centuries.
Almost 400 years on, another revolution in navigation is on its way, with
the advent of Europe's Galileo positioning infrastructure. GIOVE satellites
A and B mark the start of in-orbit validation of this new system. They will
be followed by four other satellites, to be launched in 2008.
GIOVE and its four successors will pave the way for the deployment of the
complete Galileo constellation of 30 satellites. This will provide
unprecedented satellite positioning, navigation and timing capabilities in
the 21st Century.
Background notes for editors
This first step in the Galileo programme, known as the Galileo System Test
Bed (GSTB), involves the launch of two satellites for in-orbit testing of
critical technologies such as atomic clocks and novel navigation signals
specifically developed for the programme. It will also secure the
frequencies allocated to Galileo by the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU).
Until now going under the more technical names of GSTB-V2/A and GSTB-V2/B,
these first two GIOVE satellites are elements of the In-Orbit Validation
phase of the Galileo programme. GIOVE A (GSTB-V2/A) is at present undergoing
its final environmental test campaign on the facilities at the Agency's
ESTEC test centre. The second, GIOVE B (GSTB-V2/B), is undergoing final
integration tests on the Alenia Spazio facilities in Rome (Italy).
Thus, Galileo, Europe's innovative satellite navigation system, is getting
ready for launch, preparing to deliver an innovative and advanced civil
global positioning service for the benefit of citizens throughout Europe and
worldwide.
GIOVE A is being developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (UK). It is
designed to fulfil the following main objectives: secure frequency filings,
validate key technologies such as rubidium clocks, characterise the orbital
environment and deliver signal broadcasting using two transmission channels
in parallel.
GIOVE B, which is designed to fulfil similar objectives, is being developed
by Galileo Industries, a European consortium comprising Alcatel Space
Industries (F), Alenia Spazio (I), Astrium GmbH (D), Astrium Ltd (UK) and
Galileo Sistemas y Servicios (E). This satellite also provides complementary
features such as a passive hydrogen maser clock and simultaneous
three-channel transmission.
The Galileo programme is being implemented in three phases:
Definition
Development and In-Orbit Validation
Full Deployment and Operations
The forthcoming In-Orbit Validation phase will be completed with the
deployment of a constellation of four satellites (the minimum number needed
to guarantee the exact position and time at test locations), along with the
provision of a number of associated ground stations. Eventually, the Full
Deployment phase will cover the manufacturing and launch of the 26
additional satellites completing the Galileo constellation plus the
completion of the ground segment comprising an extensive network of stations
and service centres.
Galileo is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European
Space Agency. It is the first satellite positioning and navigation system
specifically designed for civilian purposes and will offer state-of-the-art
services with outstanding performance guaranteeing accuracy, integrity,
continuity and availability.
--
--------------------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info