Galileo Launch 8 (2016)

Ariane 5 launches Galileo satellites 15-18 in Launch 8 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 17 November 2016. Launch 8 was the first time Galileo satellites were launched on the Ariane 5 and the first time a quartet of Galileo satellites were launched together. This launch brought the Galileo system to 18 satellites, allowing the European Commission to declare the start of Initial Services in December 2016.