November 30, 2021

NEXT SOYUZ MISSION FROM GUIANA SPACE CENTRE : LAUNCH OF GALILEO FOC 23 AND FOC 24 SATELLITES

Wednesday 1 December, Soyuz will lift off on its 26th flight from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana, carrying two new Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellites for the Galileo constellation, FOC 23 and FOC 24, for the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission. The launch will be the sixth this year from the Guiana Space Centre and the first for Soyuz.

With a launch mass of 1,645 kg, the two new satellites will take the total number of Galileo satellites in orbit to 28. Galileo satellites are built by prime contractor OHB System and the payloads supplied by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), a subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space.

Galileo is the European satellite navigation system, delivering ultra-precise positioning, navigation and timing services to more than 2.3 billion users all over the world. With its standard dual-frequency capability, Galileo affords real-time positioning accuracy on the order of one metre. This system—the largest infrastructure initiative ever undertaken by the European Union—guarantees strategic independence and sovereignty for member states and their citizens. Funded and wholly owned by the EU, designed by ESA and operated by the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), it is built around innovative technologies developed by Europe’s industry for the benefit of citizens everywhere.

Follow the launch live  : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiJzzyq6WQ8

CONTACTS
Olivia Baumann    Press Officer    Tel: +33 (0)1 44 76 76 59    olivia.baumann@cnes.fr
Pascale Bresson    Press Officer    Tel: +33 (0)1 44 76 75 39    pascale.bresson@cnes.fr
Raphaël Sart    Head of Media    Tel: +33 (0)1 44 76 74 51    raphael.sart@cnes.fr