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With the successful launch of four new Galileo satellites by Ariane 5 on Wednesday, the Galileo constellation has grown to 26 satellites, extending the global coverage of the constellation.
Ariane 5 Flight VA244, operated by Arianespace under contract with the European Space Agency (ESA), took off from Europe's spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, at 1125 GMT (1325 CEST, 0825 local time) on July 25, carrying the Galileo 23-26 satellites. The first pair of 715-kilogram satellites was released nearly 3 hours 36 minutes after takeoff, while the second pair separated 20 minutes later, according to a press release from ESA
. the distributor at the top of the upper floor Ariane 5. In the coming days, this quartet will be geared in its last working orbits by the French space agency CNES, under contract with operator Galileo SpaceOpal for the European Agency for Satellite Navigation System (GSA). There, they will begin about six months of testing by SpaceOpal to check their operational readiness so that they can join the constellation of Galileo.
"Galileo is the largest constellation of satellites ever built by ESA in 22 Total operational capacity satellites have been added in the last four years alone," said Jan Wörner, managing director of ESA
"We must thank our industrial partners OHB (DE) and SSTL (GB) for satellites, as well as Thales Alenia Space (FR / IT) and Airbus Defense and Space. (GB / FR) for the ground segment and all their subcontractors throughout Europe for their continued support of the program. Together with ESA, the entire industrial team has been working hard for the moment we are and this cooperation has proved very fruitful, as we can show in Galileo's excellent performance. . "
Paul Verhoef, director of ESA Navigation, added:" Galileo has been providing initial services globally since December [15] 2016, and now has more of 100 million users, and is growing rapidly. Today's satellites will increase Galileo's worldwide coverage with a performance widely recognized as excellent.
Authorities declared the launch successful, giving the European shipping fleet Galileo 26 satellites, including 22 boats launched in the last four years. Wednesday's mission was the last flight of the Ariane 5 ES version of the launcher of Europe. The next launches of Ariane 5 will use the Ariane 5 ECA configuration.
"This is the end of the current phase of Galileo's deployment, but our pace is not faltering.An additional 12 Galileo® Batch 3 satellites are being prepared as parts of replacement in orbit and replacement of the oldest satellites of Galileo, launched for the first time in 2011, so that the system continues to function in the future.
Galileos is scheduled for the middle of the next decade, offering performance improved and additional features, now Galileo as a permanent feature of the global GNSS landscape, added Verhoef.
To watch a rebroadcast of the launch click here
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