GIOVE-B satellite of Galileo European navigation system put into orbit
The GIOVE-B experimental satellite of the Galileo European satellite navigation system was successfully put into the planned orbit on Sunday.
A Russian Soyuz-FG rocket with a Fregat booster carried it to the orbit.
The satellite separated from the booster at 06:01 Moscow time. It was put into the 23,000-kilometre-altitude orbit with 56-degree inclination, the Roskosmos Federal Space Agency reported.
GIOVE-B is the second of three experimental satellites
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of the Galileo system. The first GIOVE-A was launched from Baikonur on December 28, 2005. The satellites are designed for tests of latest technologies of the future European global positioning system under real conditions. Another task is radiation situation study in the orbit. The GIOVE-B satellite weighs 530 kilogrammes.
GIOVE-B is analogous to the first spacecraft. It differs only for its atomic clock. The clock will be the most stable among those in space. There are also two reserve sets of clocks. The German company EADS Astrium Satellites and Italy's Thales Alenia Space developed the satellite.
It is planned to deploy 30 satellites, 27 operational and three reserve, in orbit for the Galileo system. Three experimental spacecraft will work in orbit before it. The satellites will be placed at three orbital levels -- nine working and a reserve one for each. Such configuration will allow ensuring navigation signal coverage of the entire globe with best work conditions in the zone between latitudes of 75 degrees north and south.
The total cost of the space and ground systems is 3.4 billion euros. After it is put into operation, services will be provided for non-military users to find whereabouts with accuracy of one metre. The Galileo headquarters is in Toulouse, France. with the operational centre in London. Two main control centres will be set up in Germany and Italy, and a reserve one in Spain.
The Starsem company deals with marketing of Soyuz rockets. Russia's founders of the company are Roskosmos and the Progress design office that makes Soyuzes. For Starsem, it was the 21st launch. The Soyuz-FG three-stage launch vehicle is a modified Soyuz rocket. Its launch weight is 308 tonnes. The Lavochkin scientific and production centre developed and made the Fregat booster.
The GIOVE-B experimental satellite of the Galileo European satellite navigation system was successfully put into the planned orbit on Sunday.
