Mission
Galileo is a cornerstone mission for Europe: it will offer highly accurate services in global navigation satellite systems and inter-operability with GPS and GLONASS.

The first experimental satellites, which will be launched in 2005-2006, will help to verify critical technologies used in this mission. The remaining satellites will be launched to reach the Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 2008.

The Galileo system consists of 27 operational and 3 active spare satellites, positioned in three circular Medium Earth Orbit planes at 23616 km of altitude, providing coverage at latitudes up to 75 degrees north.

Case Study
Active Space Technologies was responsible for the phase B thermal analysis of the CTTB (Component Technology Test Bed), an instrument developed by EFACEC, which will be launched onboard one of the Galileo satellites.