ESA

Arianespace has launched a pair of satellites into space as part of the Galileo satellite navigation system for European Space Agency (ESA).

The Galileos 13 and 14 satellites were launched aboard a Soyuz rocket by Arianespace from Guiana Space Center (CSG) in Kourou, French Guiana.

Around 3.48h after lift-off, the twin satellites were placed into orbit close to 23,500km in altitude, with a sequence of orbital fine-tuning scheduled over the next few days.

The activities will be followed by a testing phase in order to incorporate the satellites into the working constellation later this year.

Following the launch, the constellation of satellites in Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system has been increased to 14.

ESA director general Jan Woerner said: "Today’s textbook launch has added two more satellites to what has become Europe’s largest satellite constellation."

Part of Europe’s civil global satellite navigation system, Galileo expects to help users worldwide to know their exact position.

Upon completion, the system will contain 24 operational satellites and related ground infrastructure for positioning, navigation and timing services.

Funded and owned by the European Union (EU), the entire Galileo programme has been managed and looked after by the European Commission (EC).

"Today’s textbook launch has added two more satellites to what has become Europe’s largest satellite constellation."

ESA is responsible for the design, development and deployment of the new generation of systems, as well as the technical development of infrastructure required for the programme.

The definition, development and in-orbit validation phases were also performed by ESA, and co-funded by ESA and the EC.

From next year, the European Global Navigation Satellite System Agency (GSA) will be assigned to oversee the operations and provision of services of Galileo system.

EC is planning to launch 13 more satellites by Arianespace, with three Ariane 5 ES heavy launchers expected to be used to launch 12 more satellites for the Galileo constellation.

The first of these missions for the Galileo programme is planned for November, with two others planned for next year and 2018.

Image: Galileos 13 and 14 were launched aboard a Soyuz rocket by Arianespace from Guiana Space Center (CSG) in Kourou, French Guiana. Photo: courtesy of ESA/CNES/Arianespace.