Both New Galileo Satellites Now Transmitting

News courtesy of CANSPACE Listserv

Signals from both Galileo satellites launched March 27 are now transmitting signals.

Researchers at Université de Liège and at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, or DLR) reported on May 21 that the first of the full-operational-capability (FOC) satellites had begun transmitting standard L-band signals. The satellite, designated Galileo 8, is using pseudorandom-noise-code identifier 22.

The first E1 and E5 signals from Galileo 8 were received at an International GNSS Service Multi-GNSS Experiment tracking station in Windhoek, Namibia, at about 11:32 UTC on May 21. The satellite’s signals were subsequently tracked by a station in Wettzell, Germany, and then by others.

The other satellite, Galileo 7, began transmitting standard L-band signals on May 25. The first E1 and E5 signals from Galileo 7 were received around 17:00 UTC. The satellite is using PRN code 26.

The signals will be set unhealthy for use until satellite commissioning is completed.

Galileo 7 is also known as GSAT0203, FOC-FM3 and as NORAD object 40544. Galileo 8 is also designated GSAT0204, FOC-FM4 and NORAD object 40545.