Galileo
The European satellite navigation system
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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 system is expected to be fully operational by the end of the decade. Galileo will be fully interoperable with, but independent from, the existing GPS system.
Galileo
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EADS Astrium is playing a major role in the design and development of Galileo. With extensive experience in the field of satellite navigation, Astrium is a founding member and principal shareholder of European Satellite Navigation Industries (ESN Industries), the dedicated company established to provide industrial expertise and support for the Galileo programme and the system prime contractor. ESN Industries is supplying one of the two Galileo system test satellites, GIOVE-B, built by Astrium. In January 2005 ESA awarded ESN Industries the contract 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.
Astrium is a central player in the IOV phase. Its Ottobrunn site near Munich 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. The propulsion units for the four satellites come from Astrium's Lampoldshausen site.
Astrium UK in Portsmouth has system responsibility for the globally deployed ground control segment for the full 30-satellite constellation, and is designing and manufacturing the on-board navigation payload, and providing equipment elements such as the solid-state power amplifiers.
Astrium France is supplying the gyros and is involved in the ground mission segment. Spanish Astrium companies are contributing the navigation antennas and are involved in the space segment system engineering.
Astrium Services is a major partner in the consortium selected for the role of Concessionaire for the new European global satellite navigation system, Galileo. The Galileo Concessionaire will be responsible for the deployment and operations of the system over a 20-year period.
