Two Galileo satellites sealed for space

At Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, two Galileo satellites are sealed inside the protective ‘nose cone’ of Ariane 6. Known as the fairing, this component shields the satellites from the elements and maintains a stable temperature and humidity. It also provides the aerodynamic shape Ariane 6 needs to pierce through Earth’s atmosphere as it thunders toward space. 

These two Galileo satellites were launched on 17 December 2025 to begin their mission of delivering precise navigation services to billions of users worldwide, reinforcing Europe’s resilience and autonomy. Since entering service in 2016, the Galileo programme has continued to advance, introducing new capabilities to make it the world’s most accurate global navigation satellite system.