Article Posted on : - May 24, 2011

Global navigation satellite.

PARIS (BNS): The first two satellites of European global navigation satellite system will be launched on 20th October 2011, Arianespace and the European Commission announced Monday.

This will be the first of a series of Galileo satellite launches to be performed by Arianespace from the CSG, Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

The two Galileo satellites will be deployed using a Soyuz launcher. The October launch will mark Soyuz' inaugural flight from its new launch facilities at the CSG.

“The October launch will be a perfect example of European and international cooperation. On one side we will have the first operational Galileo satellites in orbit, resulting from the cooperation between the European Union and ESA. On the other side this launch is the first launch of Soyuz from CSG, a programme made possible through the cooperation between ESA and Russia,” Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of ESA, said.

Under the chairmanship of the Director General of the European Space Agency the first launch will follow a detailed assessment review.