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\t\t\t\t\t\t12\/12\/2025<\/span> On 17 December, two Galileo satellites will be launched on\u00a0an\u00a0Ariane 6\u00a0rocket\u00a0from Europe\u2019s Spaceport in French Guiana in the 14th launch\u00a0of operational satellites for\u00a0the Galileo programme.\u00a0This will be Galileo\u2019s first launch on Ariane 6 and the fifth launch of Europe\u2019s heavy-lift launcher.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The\u00a0two Galileo\u00a0satellites, designated SAT 33 and SAT 34, will improve the robustness of the Galileo system by adding spares\u00a0to the constellation\u00a0to guarantee the system can provide 24\/7 navigation to billions of users. The satellites will join the constellation in medium Earth orbit 23\u202f222\u202fkm above Earth\u2019s surface.\u00a0<\/p>\n Watch the\u00a0Galileo\u00a0launch live on\u00a0ESA WebTV\u00a0or ESA YouTube.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n 05:35\u00a0Broadcast begins\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 06:01\u00a0Liftoff\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 06:04 Booster separation\u00a0<\/p>\n 06:06\u00a0Fairing separation\u00a0<\/p>\n 06:09\u00a0Core\u00a0stage separation\u00a0<\/p>\n 06:10\u00a0\u2013 06:21\u00a0First Vinci engine boost\u00a0<\/p>\n 09:40\u00a0\u2013 09:42\u00a0Second Vinci engine boost\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 09:57\u00a0Galileo\u00a0satellites\u00a0separation\u00a0<\/p>\n 10:40 \u2013 10:50\u00a0Status of the satellites and declaration of launch success\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0launch broadcast will be followed by a\u00a0post-launch event hosted by the European Commission in Brussels, which will be streamed on ESA WebTV.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n After reaching orbit, the satellites\u00a0will be activated and checked in what is known as the early operations\u00a0phase before\u00a0going through in-orbit\u00a0testing to\u00a0assess their performance.\u00a0This ensures nothing on the satellites was damaged by the severe launch conditions. Led by the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA),\u00a0the checks and testing\u00a0last\u00a0three to four months, after which the Galileo satellites\u00a0will\u00a0enter service, joining the rest of the constellation in providing positioning, navigation, and timing to users worldwide.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Follow updates on the launch campaign\u00a0here.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Galileo is currently the world\u2019s most precise satellite navigation system, serving over five billion smartphone users around the globe since entering Open Service in 2016. All smartphones sold in the European Single Market are now guaranteed Galileo-enabled. In addition, Galileo is making a difference across the fields of rail, maritime, agriculture, financial timing\u00a0services\u00a0and rescue operations.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n A flagship programme of the EU, Galileo is managed and funded by the European Commission. Since its\u00a0inception, ESA leads the design, development and qualification of the space and ground systems, as well as\u00a0procuring\u00a0launches. ESA is also entrusted with research and development activities for the future of Galileo within the EU programme Horizon Europe. EUSPA acts as the service provider, overseeing the market and application needs and closing the loop with users.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n For more info about Galileo:\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Ariane 6 is Europe\u2019s heavy-lift\u00a0launcher and a key element of ESA\u2019s efforts to ensure autonomous access to space for Europe\u2019s citizens. Its modular and versatile design allows it to launch all types of missions, from low-Earth orbit to deep space.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Ariane 6\u00a0is designed and built by\u00a0ArianeGroup. It\u00a0has three\u00a0main components\u00a0each working in\u00a0stages\u00a0to escape Earth\u2019s gravity and take satellites to orbit: two or four boosters, and a core and upper stage. For this launch, the rocket will be in its two-booster configuration.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n The core stage and the boosters\u00a0provide thrust\u00a0for the first phase of flight. The core stage is powered by the\u00a0Vulcain\u00a02.1 engine (fuelled by liquid oxygen and hydrogen), with the main thrust at liftoff provided by the P120C boosters.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n The upper stage is powered by the\u00a0reignitable\u00a0Vinci engine, also fuelled by liquid oxygen and hydrogen. The upper stage will fire two times to reach the required orbit for this mission.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n After separation of the Galileo satellites, the Ariane 6 upper stage will move to a stable graveyard orbit far away from operational satellites.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t24<\/span> likes<\/small><\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\nProgramme (all times in CET) <\/h2>\n
About Galileo <\/h2>\n
About Ariane 6<\/h2>\n