Next 2 Galileo satellites delivered for launch

News from the European Space Agency

Europe’s next two Galileo navigation satellites have touched down in Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana ahead of the launch of a quartet by Ariane 5 at the end of this year (scheduled for Dec. 12).

Galileos 19 and 20 left Luxembourg Airport on a Boeing 747 cargo jet on the morning of Sept. 18, arriving at Cayenne — Félix Eboué Airport in French Guiana that evening.

Safely cocooned within protective air-conditioned containers, the pair were offloaded and driven to the cleanroom environment of the preparation building within the space centre.

A Galileo satellite in its protective container is unloaded from its cargo plane after landing in French Guiana Sept. 18. (Photo: ESA)

This building will remain their home as preparations for their launch proceeds, with the next two Galileos due to join them later this month.

The satellites join the first elements of their customised Ariane 5 at the centre — including its cryogenic main stage and half-shell payload fairing — which were delivered by ship the week before.

Galileo is Europe’s own satellite navigation system, providing an array of positioning, navigation and timing services to Europe and the world.

A further eight Galileo “Batch 3” satellites were ordered last June, to supplement the 26 built so far.

A Galileo satellite is driven to the Guiana Space Centre following its arrival on Sept. 18. (Photo: ESA)

With 18 satellites now in orbit, Galileo began initial services on Dec. 15, 2016, the first step towards full operations.

Further launches will continue to build the constellation, which will gradually improve performance and availability worldwide.