October 21 was a landmark day for Galileo; the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched the first two satellites of the Galileo navigation system. Blast off, the first of a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana, came at 10.30 GMT.

This launch of the first two completely operational satellites kicks off the deployment of Europe’s satellite navigation constellation. A second pair of satellites are due to be launched next year, bringing to an end the Galileo design and validation stage, to be followed by the rest of the satellites in the coming years until building up to the final constellation.

GMV is continuing to play a standout role in the next phase of the Galileo program. Thursday 20 October is likely to be a red-letter day for Galileo, since it is the scheduled date for the launch of the first two completely operational satellites, kicking off the deployment stage of Europe’s satellite navigation system. A second pair of satellites are due to be launched next year, completing the design and validation stage of the Galileo system. These will be followed in turn by the rest of the satellites over the coming years until building up the complete constellation.

GMV is in charge of developing the items responsible for final system performance. Galileo has been divided into two phases; the first, called In-Orbit Validation (IOV), and the second called Full Operational Capability (FOC), which aims to complete the ground and space infrastructure developed during the first phase.

Galileo FOC kicks off with an intermediate four-year phase, 18-satellite phase (building up to between 24 and 30 by the final phase) with 24 reference stations (building up to between 30 and 40 in the final phase) and two control centers; it will initially provide three services: the open service, the public regulated service and the search and rescue service. The other two services planned for the future are a commercial service and an integrity information service.

GMV is participating in the ground mission segment and the ground control segment, carrying out a total of 4 projects, all key elements within the system and the ongoing IOV phase. GMV is also carrying out many consultancy tasks, both for the European Commission and the European Space Agency as well as for other firms heavily involved in the final development of the system.