ESA Launches Celeste Satellites to Boost Navigation System
The European Space Agency (ESA) has marked a significant advancement in satellite navigation with the successful launch of the first two satellites of the Celeste in-orbit demonstration mission. The satellites were launched aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from New Zealand, signalling Europe’s push to enhance the resilience and capability of its navigation systems. Celeste Mission and Launch Details The two satellites, Celeste IOD-1 and IOD-2, were launched on 28 March at 10:14 CET and separated from the rocket approximately one hour later. Built by GMV and Thales Alenia Space, the satellites have entered their early operational phase, where mission control will prepare them for full functionality in orbit. Objective to Complement Galileo System The mission aims to test a complementary layer of satellite navigation in low Earth orbit ( LEO ) to support Europe’s existing Galileo system, which operates in medium Earth orbit . By operating closer to Earth, Celeste satellites are ...