Soyuz launches GIOVE-B on the second Starsem mission for Europe's Galileo navigation system

April 27, 2008

Starsem's 21st commercial flight successfully orbited the GIOVE-B payload today, reconfirming its Soyuz launcher's capability to deploy a constellation of satellites for the newest space-based navigation network – Europe's Galileo system.

The Soyuz launcher's engines are throttled up for liftoff from Baikonur Cosmodrome with the GIOVE-B navigation satellite. Photo: © ESA - S. Corvaja

Lifting off on schedule from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome at 4:16 a.m. local time, the Soyuz flew a multi-phase mission that led to GIOVE-B's separation 3 hrs., 45 min. later.

GIOVE-B is the second developmental satellite launched by Starsem for the Galileo navigation system, following an on-target Soyuz flight with GIOVE-A in December 2005. The fully-deployed Galileo constellation will consist of 30 satellites, positioned in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at an altitude of 23,222 km., inclined 56 deg.

Both the medium-lift Soyuz and heavy-lift Ariane 5 vehicles are poised to play a key role in launching the Galileo constellation, operating side-by-side from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana under the management of Starsem's Arianespace affiliate.

"Today's mission with GIOVE-B is a very important success for Galileo, and it also is a success for Arianespace - which has the two launch systems that are ready to deploy this new navigation system," said Jean-Yves Le Gall, the Chairman & CEO of Arianespace and Starsem.

GIOVE-B was produced by prime contractor EADS Astrium, and weighed 530 kg. at liftoff. The 0.95 x 0.95 x 2.4-meter cube-shaped spacecraft was released in MEO after three burns of the Soyuz' Fregat upper stage.

Galileo is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European Space Agency, providing a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service under civilian control. It will be interoperable with America's Global Position System and the Russian GLONASS network.

See our other Feature stories for coverage of Starsem's launch campaign with GIOVE-B: Soyuz is ready for liftoff with GIOVE-B (April 24, 2008) GIOVE-B is mated with the Fregat upper stage (April 15, 2008) GIOVE-B is cleared for fueling in preparation for Starsem’s April 27 launch (April 7, 2008) Starsem readies its launch of Europe’s second navigation satellite, GIOVE-B (March 21, 2008) The press release has more details on this successful launch of the GIOVE-B satellite. For additional information on the GIOVE-B mission, read the Launch Kit.