GMV plays an active part in the Galileo program

GMV, one of the main actors in setting up Europe’s satellite navigation strategy, 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: OSPF_FOC, MNE_FOC, SPF_FOC and FDF_FOC, 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.

The OSPF (Orbit & Synchronization Processing Facility) forms part of the ground mission segment. Acting as the authentic brain of the whole Galileo system, it calculates the precise position of the Galileo satellites and synchronizes all the system’s clocks, i.e., it generates the navigation message sent by the Galileo satellites. The OSPF_FOC project will implement some developments of the OSPF, manufacture some recurrent units and provide maintenance for the FOC and IOV units up to March 2015.

The MNE (MDDN Network equipment), also part of the ground mission segment, is the software component of the MDDN (Mission Data Dissemination Network); it will provide the communication services between the control centers, the reference stations and the transmission stations.

The SPF (Service Product Facility) provides the external interface between the ground mission segment and external users, facilitating the exchange of information between Galileo, users, service providers and other external systems, such as the GPS system.

Lastly, within the ground control segment, GMV is responsible for the Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF), which calculates the satellites’ operational position and attitude and generates the necessary maneuvers to keep the satellites within the pre-established orbit and antenna-pointing parameters at all times. The FDF FOC development contract covers the development and maintenance of the FDF system. This system will be installed in the two control centers, Oberpfaffenhofen (Germany) and Fucino (Italy), facilitating operational synchronization between both sites; it will be capable of operating 18 constellation satellites from two different platforms. GMV is responsible for development, validation, preparation of the training courses for the operators and the corrective and evolutionary maintenance.

Miguel Romay, GMV’s GNSS Manager considers this launch to be a historic event for Europe. “After surmounting many political and managerial hurdles the Galileo program finally sees the light of day, demonstrating Europe’s capacity for developing large-scale systems and playing a key role in today’s society. Galileo will act as a driving force behind Europe’s economic development”. 

The Contracts will be carried out under programs funded by the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union and/or ESA