Galileo constellation: First and Second generation

Galileo is Europe’s satellite navigation constellation. It is currently the world’s most precise satellite navigation system, serving billions of users since entering Open Service in 2016. All smartphones sold in the European Single Market are guaranteed Galileo-enabled. In addition, Galileo is making a difference across the fields of rail, maritime, agriculture, financial timing services and rescue operations.

Twelve Galileo Second Generation (G2) satellites will join the current Galileo fleet in the coming years. With fully digital navigation payloads, electric propulsion, a better-performing navigation antenna, inter-satellite link capacity and an advanced atomic clock configuration, G2 satellites will provide more robust and reliable positioning, navigation and timing. Galileo Second Generation satellites will integrate seamlessly with the current Galileo satellites to form the largest European satellite constellation and enable a wide array of new applications that will benefit users in Europe and around the world.

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