The thirteenth and fourteenth Galileo European positioning satellites were successfully launched

The thirteenth and fourteenth Galileo European positioning satellites were successfully launched on a Soyuz rocket at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana at 5:48 on May 24 local time (17:48 JST). The two satellites were put onto an orbit near their prescribed orbit (altitude of 23,222 kilometers and inclination of 56 degrees) three hours and 48 minutes after the launch. Minute adjustments will be made from the ground to move them onto their prescribed orbit.

When the Galileo system is complete, it will consist of 30 satellites including spare satellites. Ten satellites (of which two are spare satellites) will each be stationed on three circular orbits with inclinations differing by 120 degrees. The successful launch of these two satellites brought the total number of Galileo satellites circling the orbits to 14, roughly half the number of the planned 30-satellite constellation.

The next Galileo satellites will be launched in November of this year with a simultaneous launch of four satellites on an Ariane 5ES rocket. Four satellites each will also be launched next year and the following year (2017 and 2018).

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* Header and text images provided by: European Space Agency (ESA)