Even after the retirement of the first Galileo satellite in April 2025, after 12 years of operation, the European navigation system has maintained its goal of strengthening the robustness and availability of its services. The latest mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA) was a significant step in this direction, Europa Press reports. The fifth operation of the Ariane 6 launch vehicle launched this Wednesday from the European spaceport in French Guiana, carrying the Galileo satellites SAT 33 and SAT 34, key elements for the continuity and improvement of the constellation.
Europa Press media said this launch, scheduled for 6:01 a.m. (Spanish peninsular time; 2:01 a.m. local time), was the first Galileo flight aboard an Ariane 6. The mission aims to add spare parts to the Galileo constellation, which is intended to ensure global navigation and positioning coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for billions of users. After separation from the launch vehicle, the satellites will enter medium Earth orbit at an altitude of 23,222 kilometers above the planet’s surface.
According to Europa Press, the Galileo satellites were involved in a complex technical process when launched. After launch, the boosters and fairing were undocked and then the rocket’s core stage was separated. Then the first ignition of the Vinci engine, which was responsible for propelling the Ariane 6 upper stage into the desired orbit, took place. The second firing of this engine was scheduled for 9:40 a.m., just before the launch of the Galileo satellites, minutes before 10:00 a.m.
Over the next 40 or 50 minutes, teams from ESA and the European Space Agency (EUSPA) will check the status of the satellites after their deployment and verify the integrity and success of the operation, Europa Press published. Ariane 6’s upper stage will then enter a graveyard orbit to maintain distance from the trajectories of operational satellites and contribute to the responsible management of space traffic.
Once the satellites SAT 33 and SAT 34 reach orbit, they will begin the early phase of operations. According to Europa Press, during this time they will be turned on and examined to ensure that all their systems are working properly and that they have not suffered any damage during the launch. The preparatory work and testing carried out by EUSPA will take between three and four months. Once completed, both satellites will be officially integrated into the constellation and provide critical positioning, navigation and timing services to users around the world.
Galileo is internationally recognized for its role as a satellite navigation system with the highest precision. According to Europa Press, this system has been offering open services since 2016 and has since delivered data to more than five billion mobile devices around the world. All smartphones sold in the European single market are currently compatible with Galileo. In addition, the European satellite network has an impact on key sectors such as rail and maritime transport, agriculture, finance, and rescue and scheduling.
Since its inception, Galileo has remained under the management and financing of the European Commission. Europa Press recalled that ESA is responsible for the development, design and qualification of both ground and space systems, including launch contracts and research related to the Horizon Europe program for the future of Galileo. For its part, EUSPA oversees the provision of services and monitors the market and applications, closing the loop that connects technology, industry and users.
According to Europa Press, since 2016 the Galileo system has been distinguished by offering positioning accuracy of up to one meter worldwide. Additionally, the program has built-in authentication mechanisms to reduce the risk of identity theft. The success of the constellation’s latest refresh in 2024 has allowed it to consolidate the accuracy and availability goals set out in its original plans. L14, the ongoing mission, will also ensure the continuity of European leadership in GNSS systems, emphasizing robustness and reliability.
The deployment of SAT 33 and SAT 34 precedes the launch of the four first generation Galileo satellites, which is still pending and planned for the near future. As Europa Press reports, the constellation will then integrate second-generation satellites that will offer relevant technological innovations: digital navigation systems, propulsion based on electrical energy, an antenna optimized for higher performance, communication links between satellites in orbit, as well as additional and experimental atomic clocks that will be evaluated during its mission.
All of these improvements are aimed at providing more robust, precise and reliable navigation and timekeeping services. Europa Press currently stressed that Galileo will impact not only individual users, but also critical infrastructure and strategic sectors around the world, positioning itself as the largest European satellite constellation to date.
On the other hand, the European launch vehicle Ariane 6 continues to appear as an essential tool for autonomous European access to space. This launch vehicle, of which ArianeGroup is the prime contractor, has a modular architecture and is prepared for various missions, from low orbit launches to space missions. In the current mission, Ariane 6 used two solid boosters – model P120C – coupled to the core stage powered by the Vulcain 2.1 engine with liquid oxygen and hydrogen. The upper stage, powered by the restartable Vinci engine, performed two burns to ensure proper insertion of the satellites into orbit.
The technical characteristics of Ariane 6 offer versatility and the ability to adapt to the development of European space programs, noted Europa Press. This opens up new opportunities in the development of the continent’s space infrastructure and allows strengthening its position in the international context of launch services.
Images of the launch and further details of the mission are available on Europa Press Television. There it is also possible to access graphic and audiovisual material about the launch and operation of Ariane 6 with the new Galileo satellites on board.
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