N° 81–2025: Media invitation: Galileo (Launch 14) pre-launch online media briefings

ESA, the European Commission, the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), and Arianespace are planning a wide range of media activities for this launch including these online pre-launch media briefings which are open to all journalists.

These multilingual sessions will offer exclusive insights into the mission set for launch on 17 December, a Galileo status update and the strong European partnership behind the Galileo programme. These online briefings are offered in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch.

Interested journalists are kindly requested to register by 16:00 CET on Monday 8 December: https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form. Only registered media will be able to attend and ask questions.

Briefing schedule

9 December 2025 

English, 11:00 – 12:00 CET  

Speakers, in order of presentation: 

• Caroline Arnoux, Head of the Ariane Business Unit, Arianespace 
• Andrea Cotellessa, Head of Galileo Space Segment Management Office, ESA
• Eric Châtre, Deputy Head of Unit for Satellite Navigation, European Commission (DEFIS)
• Guerric Pont, Head of Galileo Exploitation Department, EUSPA 
• Manuel Czech, Director Navigation Programme, OHB 

French, 12:00 – 13:00 CET 

Speakers: 

• Caroline Arnoux, Head of the Ariane Business Unit, Arianespace 
• Thibault Leroux, Head of Galileo System Security Service, ESA
• Paul Flament, Head of Unit for Satellite Navigation, European Commission (DEFIS)
• Guerric Pont, Head of Galileo Exploitation Department, EUSPA 

Spanish, 13:00 - 14:00 CET 

Speakers:  

• Miguel Manteiga Bautista, Head of Galileo Programme Office, ESA
• Ignacio Fernández Hernández, Galileo Authentication and High Accuracy Service Manager, European Commission (DEFIS)
• Xavier Pena, Galileo Deployment Manager, EUSPA

Dutch, 14:00 – 15:00 CET 

Speakers: 

• Bastiaan Willemse, Head of Galileo FOC Satellite Management Service, ESA
• Xavier Maufroid, Head of Galileo Implementation Team, European Commission (DEFIS)
• Peter Buist, Galileo Reference Centre Manager, EUSPA

German, 15:00 – 16:00 CET 

Speakers:

• Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation, European Commission (DEFIS)
• Jörg Hahn, Head of Galileo System Engineering Service, ESA
• Robert Greinacher, EUSPA
• Manuel Czech, Director Navigation Programme, OHB 

Italian, 16:00 – 17:00 CET 

Speakers: 

• Andrea Cotellessa, Head of Galileo Space Segment Management Office
• Antonio Danesi, Programme Officer for Space Segment. European Commission (DEFIS)
• Guerric Pont, Head of Galileo Exploitation Department, EUSPA

About Galileo

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

A flagship programme of the EU, Galileo is managed and funded by the European Commission. Since its inception, ESA leads the design, development and qualification of the space and ground systems, as well as procuring launches. ESA is also entrusted with research and development activities for the future of Galileo within the EU programme Horizon Europe. The EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) acts as the service provider, overseeing the market and application needs and closing the loop with users.

More information 

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ESA - Galileo, advancing toward the future  

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About the European Space Agency 

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.  

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int.