Galileo

© EADS Astrium

Galileo is the new European satellite navigation system comprising a global satellite-based network for precise positioning and timing information. It will offer many levels of service to satisfy all user requirements (commercial, safety and security, science, leisure), and will deliver guaranteed and certified quality and integrity for safety-critical applications (civil aviation, emergency services, security applications). Consisting of 30 spacecraft in Medium Earth Orbit and associated ground infrastructure, the Galileo system will be fully interoperable with, but independent from, the existing GPS system.

Astrium is playing a major role in the design and development of Galileo. Astrium is responsible for the Galileo system test satellite GIOVE-B, as well as for the Galileo in-orbit validation (IOV) phase to test the new satellite navigation system under real mission conditions. The agreement provides for the construction of the first four constellation satellites and part of the ground infrastructure for Galileo to 2009, and then the testing of this partial system.

In the IOV phase, Astrium has system leadership for the space segment, with overall responsibility for the construction of these first four satellites, and is supplying components such as the attitude control system (AOCS) and, in collaboration with Dutch Space, the solar generators.

With this expertise, Astrium is well prepared to build the complete satellite segment, including payload, avionics and ground control of the entire Galileo system.