Two new satellites have been successfully launched, strengthening the EU’s Galileo satellite navigation system. The launch took place from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, aboard an Ariane 6 rocket. The new satellites add capacity to the Galileo constellation and support the system’s long-term reliability.
Galileo is the world’s most accurate satellite navigation system and is used by an estimated 4.5 billion people worldwide. This European system of satellites provides precise positioning and timing services, offering around one-metre accuracy and up to 20 centimetres through its High Accuracy Service. These services support everyday uses such as emergency response, navigation for cars, ships, trains and drones, and timing for telecommunications and financial transactions.
The two satellites will undergo several months of testing and calibration in orbit before entering service. Galileo is funded by the European Union and managed by the European Commission. The system’s services are operated by the EU Agency for the Space Programme, with technical development supported by the European Space Agency and European industry partners.
