August 21, 2014 – 6:19
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Photo: AP
The European operator Arianespace announced Thursday the launch of 12 new satellites “to accelerate deployment” of Galileo, which should allow Europe to launch your navigation system to compete with the American GPS.
” From 2015 “Three Ariane 5 launchers deployed 12 new Galileo satellites, Arianespace company announced in a statement after signing in French Guiana of a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA).
These 12 new satellites, which are part of the constellation of 22 satellites program built by allied British German group OHB System Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, will be put “in a circular orbit 23,522 miles altitude through a combination of five Soyuz carrier rockets (two satellites for launch) and three Ariane 5 ES (four satellites per launch), “said Arianespace.
“With its heavy Ariane 5 ES launcher, Arianespace offers the best solution adapted to accelerate the deployment of the entire Galileo constellation,” said CEO of Arianespace Stéphane Israel, said in a statement.
The announcement came hours before the Thursday launch two new satellites Galileo from French Guyana, which mark an important stage of the European project: Galileo Sat-Sat 5-6 will be launched from the Space Center Kourou (French Guiana) at 12:31 GMT aboard a Soyuz rocket.
Expected to run in the fall, after its first tests in orbit, these two new Galileo satellite “operations”-from 22 in total, will join the four satellites “test” already deployed to validate the navigation system promoted by the European Commission.
The Galileo constellation is then displayed progressively, with between six and eight devices launched annually by Soyuz and Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, will be launched as the network elements on earth.
time, Galileo satellites should have 30 total and compete in accuracy with the American GPS.
The first initial Galileo services should begin in late 2014 and the system should be fully operational in 2018.
The Europeans have wanted to have their own technology, independent of American military GPS system.
cost of more than € 5,000 billion , the program is 100% funded by the European Commission and put in work by the ESA.
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