ESA - Navigation - The future - Galileo

About Galileo

What is Galileo?Why Europe needs Galileo Who's involved in Galileo?Galileo technology developments Galileo : a constellation of 30 navigation satellites

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Galileo Technology Developments GSTB-V1 Technology Developments GIOVE - First Galileo Satellites (.pdf, 1.2 Mb)

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Full deployment and operations


Galileo

Overview

After the In-Orbit Validation phase, the Full Deployment phase will cover the manufacturing and launch of 26 satellites and the completion of the ground segment.

Once all the satellites have been deployed, operation will commence with the complete constellation of 27 operational satellites and three reserves, all stationed on three circular Medium Earth Orbits (MEOs) at an altitude of 23 222 km and with an inclination of 56º to the equator. To support this there will be an extensive network of ground stations and local and regional service centres.

Galileo will become the global standard for civil navigation by satellite. There will be total interoperability between the European and US systems (an agreement between the European Union and the United States was signed in June 2004 at the EU-US summit in Dublin) and the Russian system GLONASS. Cooperation agreements with third countries are being negotiated by the European Commission giving a truly global dimension to Galileo, the first civil complete navigation satellite system.

In 2010, after the deployment of the four initial satellites of the in-orbit validation phase, the GPS/EGNOS/Galileo combined services will be progressively provided.

Last update: 16 August 2007

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First stages of Galileo

Galileo testbeds First two satellites Frequency filings

In-orbit validation

Overview In-orbit validation system: the first 4 satellites

Full deployment

Overview The constellation: 27 satellites + 3 in reserve Galileo system

Galileo specifications

Galileo signals and frequencies How do the Galileo clocks work ?Receivers Services