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Satellite pioneer GIOVE-A Galileo system in orbit turns 5

Summary of the note written by Staff Writers

Paris, France (ESA) December 29, 2010

The GPS navigation satellite GIOVE-A European Space Agency-ESA-the first prototype of the European navigation system Galileo is still operating well after 5 years in space.

The first element in-orbit validation of Galileo system, GIOVE-A, was released on December 28, 2005 by a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan, has a prototype rubidium atomic clock designed especially for the Galileo constellation.

The April 27, 2008 was accompanied by the GIOVE-B, equipped with an ultra-precise atomic clock of hydrogen and a second rubidium clock. Operationally the Galileo satellites carry both watches to give maximum accuracy to the system.

Both satellites were designed to have a lifespan of 27 months each, commented Valter Alpe, operations manager at ESA GIOVE. Therefore, it is a pleasant surprise, that after 60 months GIOVE-A continues fully operational and in orbit. Meanwhile, GIOVE-B, is not a problem after 33 months in space.

The main developer Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd in the UK, built the GIOVE-A very fast, since the contract signed in July 2003 until his release after only two and half years.

The European Space Agency and the European Commission needed to start using radio frequency allocated to Galileo by the International Telecommunication Union-ITU before December 31, 2005, who had been assigned provisionally. GIOVE-A was placed in orbit before the deadline the end of the ITU, so be sure the frequency for the entire Galileo system, transmitting the first signal from space on January 12, 2006.

The European Space Agency in early 2010, signed a contract for the construction of the first 14 satellites of the constellation of the European navigation system Galileo, the contract was signed with the consortium formed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and HBO systems, SSTL being the main contractor of the project, which is currently running and to develop a satellite every 6 months.

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