GIOVE-A Repositioned for Future Operational Satellites

GIOVE-A Repositioned for Future Operational Satellites
http://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-system/galileo/news/giove-a-repositioned-future-operational-satellites-8976?print=1

October 1, 2009

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has successfully completed the planned
repositioning of the first Galileo test satellite, GIOVE-A, to a higher orbit to
make way
for the operational satellites of Europe's satellite navigation constellation.

From the GIOVE-A operational headquarters in Guildford, UK, SSTL's operating
team
executed a series of precisely planned manoeuvres during July and August that
have
repositioned the satellite 113 kilometers above the orbit that the 27
operational Galileo
navigation satellites will occupy.

Since its launch in December 2005, GIOVE-A has achieved all of its mission
objectives and
remains in excellent condition well beyond its design life of 2 years, SSTL
said. The test
satellite has secured the Galileo frequency filings with the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), facilitated the experimental reception of
navigation
signals from Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and collected data to characterise the MEO
environment using two different radiation-monitoring instruments. The mission
has also
flight-proven the main technologies developed for Galileo such as the highly
accurate
atomic clocks.

GIOVE-A remains fully operational, and has sufficient propellant remaining for
further
manoeuvres. During transit to its new orbit, the Galileo navigation signal
broadcasting
was temporarily suspended because the precise orbit determination that is
required to
generate usable navigation data for the GNSS user community was not possible.
There are
two optimal windows during the year to perform repositioning maneuvers. No
further
maneuvers are planned in the current window, therefore the payload has been
successfully
switched on again and the spacecraft has now resumed broadcasting navigation
signals from
its new orbit.

A further repositioning exercise may be performed to raise the orbit higher
still before
GIOVE-A is finally decommissioned.

GIOVE-A was developed and manufactured by SSTL within a 30-month, 28m Euro
contract. SSTL
continues to operate the satellite from its Guildford, UK, facilities and has
also
undertaken or contributed to the GIOVE-A and GIOVE-B testing programs that are
the
foundations of the future Galileo satellite navigation system and the
operational
satellite development.

OHB and SSTL jointly form one of the two consortia now bidding for the
development and
construction of 28 satellites for the operational Galileo service. By allowing
two
consortia to build spacecraft for this important European undertaking, ESA and
the EU
would ensure that the full operational capability can be put in place as soon as
possible
and at best value to the taxpayer. The system is to be fully operational by 2013
following
full contract signature expected in late 2009.