First European GPS Satellite for Galileo Network Launched
Date: Wednesday, December 28 @ 05:43:53 UTC Topic:
The first piece in the forthcoming European GPS network, Galileo, successfully launched this morning and has just entered a test phase where its on-board instruments are checked and its orbit corrected.
Giove-A was launched from Baikonur Spaceport in Kazahkstan at 0519 UTC
this morning and will be used to test the atomic clocks and other key technologies and equipment required for the £2.3billion Galileo GPS network. It is hoped to bring increased levels of positional accuracy over the existing US Navstar GPS network which was designed over 20 years ago.
Giove-A was built in the UK by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and staff monitored the launch from Mission Control in Guildford.
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