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The Celeste mission is ESA's initiative for LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning Navigation and Timing) and is currently in its in-orbit demonstration phase.

This first phase features a demonstration constellation of 11 satellites that will fly in low Earth orbit to test innovative signals across various frequency bands. Its goal is to advance satellite navigation concepts for resilient positioning, navigation and timing services.

Celeste was further expanded at ESA’s Council at Ministerial Level of 2025 (CM25), towards the implementation of the next phase: the Celeste In-Orbit Preparatory phase.

The results of the Celeste mission will pave the way for a European multi-layer PNT, preparing European industry and supporting the European Union’s decision for its own operational navigation layer in LEO, complementing Galileo and EGNOS.

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Discover Celeste

[ Celeste ]
Celeste mission patch
11 MAR. 2026

Introducing Celeste

Satellite navigation has become integral to our society. Today, Europe’s Galileo is a major success, powering everything from smartphones, cars, aviation and even critical infrastructure and ensuring European independence in positioning, navigation and timing (PNT).With Celeste, ESA is now exploring how complementary satellites in low earth orbit can help further enhance these systems, making satellite navigation even more robust, secure and available for all users.
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[ Celeste ]
Celeste in-orbit demonstration satellites orbiting
11 MAR. 2026

Celeste in-orbit demonstration constellation

The Celeste in-orbit demonstration mission will comprise 11 satellites in low Earth orbit. The constellation will combine small satellites with several capabilities, reflecting a modular approach to development and deployment.
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[ Celeste ]
11 MAR. 2026

Celeste for resilience

A central element of Celeste is its exploration of advanced more powerful signals and signals in new frequency bands to enhance satellite navigation resilience, including interference situations, and open to new services capabilities directly from low Earth orbit.
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[ Celeste ]
Navigation for public transport
11 MAR. 2026

Benefits of satellite navigation in low Earth orbit

Thanks to its lower orbit, faster dynamics and the introduction of novel signals and new frequencies, satellite constellations for Positioning Navigation Timing in low Earth orbit (LEO-PNT) could augment current GNSS performance, increase its resilience and provide additional services not currently feasible from medium Earth orbit (MEO).
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Celeste

Latest images

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Four people wearing high-visibility jackets stand on a roadside in front of two vehicles equipped for field testing. A dark blue van displays the ESA logo and has several antennas and other equipment mounted on its roof. Beside it is a silver van, also fitted with multiple rooftop antennas. One person gives a thumbs-up, while another holds a small device. A drone hovers in front of them. Trees and low vegetation surround the roadside location, with a rocky hillside visible in the distance.
08 OCT. 2026

ESA engineers test a drone (Jammertest 2026)

ESA engineers test a drone
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Latest news

[ Satellite Navigation ]
Five people wearing high-visibility orange ESA jackets stand beside a dark blue European Space Agency van equipped with antennas, with steep mountains in the background.
08 OCT. 2026

Jammertest pumps up the jam in Norway

Every September, for one week, the airwaves above the Arctic island of Andøya, Norway, become some of the most heavily attacked in the world. For a good reason: Jammertest. From the small village of Bleik, 69 degrees north, Norwegian authorities launch hundreds of jamming and spoofing attacks, allowing participants to test their technologies against realistic threats, identify weaknesses in them and ultimately develop stronger positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions.
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[ Celeste ]
Celeste in-orbit demonstration satellites orbiting
15 SEP. 2026

ESA's Celeste demonstrates 5G positioning signals from low Earth orbit

The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully demonstrated the transmission and reception of 5G positioning signals from the Celeste IOD-2 satellite in low Earth orbit, marking a key step toward integrating the worlds of satellite navigation and mobile communications.
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