Soyuz launches GIOVE-B
Posted: Sun, Apr 27, 2008, 1:04 PM ET (1704 GMT)
A Soyuz rocket successfully launched early Sunday the second demonstration satellite for Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system. The Soyuz-Fregat rocket lifted off from Baikonur at 6:13 pm EDT Saturday (2213 GMT Saturday, 4:16 am local time Sunday) and placed the Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element B (GIOVE-B) satellite into a 23,200-kilometer, 56-degree orbit. The 500-kilogram spacecraft, built a European consortium led by EADS Astrium, is the second demonstration satellite for Galileo, and is designed to test key technologies that may be used on future operational Galileo satellites. The spacecraft has originally been planned for launch in 2006, but was delayed for two years by technical problems. A smaller Galileo demonstration satellite, GIOVE-A, was built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. and launched in late 2005 to reserve the frequencies that will be used by the operational system. Galileo is intended to be a competitor to the existing US GPS system and the Russian GLONASS system that is being replenished. Once intended to be a public-private partnership, Galileo is now a government-funded program; contracts for the satellites, launches, and related infrastructure will be let later this year.
A Soyuz rocket successfully launched early Sunday the second demonstration satellite for Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system. The Soyuz-Fregat rocket lifted off from Baikonur at 6:13 pm EDT Saturday (2213 GMT Saturday, 4:16 am local time Sunday) and placed the Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element B (GIOVE-B) satellite into a 23,200-kilometer, 56-degree orbit. The 500-kilogram spacecraft, built a European consortium led by EADS Astrium, is the second demonstration satellite for Galileo, and is designed to test key technologies that may be used on future operational Galileo satellites. The spacecraft has originally been planned for launch in 2006, but was delayed for two years by technical problems. A smaller Galileo demonstration satellite, GIOVE-A, was built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. and launched in late 2005 to reserve the frequencies that will be used by the operational system. Galileo is intended to be a competitor to the existing US GPS system and the Russian GLONASS system that is being replenished. Once intended to be a public-private partnership, Galileo is now a government-funded program; contracts for the satellites, launches, and related infrastructure will be let later this year.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, July 4
Boeing to Release Second Quarter Results on July 29
Boeing — 9:42 am ET (1342 GMT) Boeing Delivers Next-Generation O3b mPOWER Satellites to SES
Boeing — 9:42 am ET (1342 GMT) Boeing Secures $2.8B Contract to Enhance U.S. Strategic SATCOM Capabilities
Boeing — 9:41 am ET (1341 GMT) Space Force picks Boeing for $2.8B strategic communications program
Defense News — 9:41 am ET (1341 GMT) The Inevitable Militarization Of Space?
Eurasia Review — 9:40 am ET (1340 GMT) |
