Galileo Liftoff – 22nd August 2014

A Soyuz rocket launched Europe’s fifth and six Galileo satellites from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on the 22nd August.

These new satellites are intended to join four Galileo satellites already in orbit, launched in October 2011 and October 2012 respectively. This first quartet were ‘In-Orbit Validation’ satellites, serving to demonstrate the Galileo system would function as planned.

These ‘Full Operational Capability’ satellites are significant as the first of the rest of the Galileo constellation. A steady stream of launches will follow to build the complete Galileo constellation.