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Galileo Second Generation satellite. Photo Credit: Airbus

Full production has begun on the six Galileo Second Generation (G2) satellites at Airbus’ site in Friedrichshafen, Germany, with the arrival of the first satellite Flight Model structure from Beyond Gravity (Zurich, Switzerland). Galileo is a highly precise satellite navigational system that provides meter-level accuracy to more than four million global users. The G2 satellites will add enhanced capabilities to the current 38 Galileo satellites in orbit.

The Flight Model structure is similar to what Beyond Gravity has supplied for the MetOp 2nd Generation weather satellites (6-meter-high, 1,000-kilogram assembly of 24,000 parts) featuring a lightweight sandwich construction of aluminum honeycomb bonded to carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) skins. These lightweight composite structures withstand the harsh loads during launch as well as the extreme temperatures, temperature fluctuations and vacuum conditions in space. After preparation, the G2 Flight Model structure will be mated with other hardware and systems during final integration and testing at Friedrichshafen. The Galileo G2 satellites are scheduled for launch in the coming years to support the initial deployment and validation of the G2 system.

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“After the successful design phase, we are now kicking off production in earnest of the state-of-the-art Galileo G2 satellites,” Jean-Marc Nasr, head of space systems at Airbus, says. “Our teams in Friedrichshafen are working with engineers across Europe to meet the challenging schedule and finalize these sophisticated satellites which will further improve the global Galileo system opening up even more opportunities for services on Earth.”

To meet the demanding schedule to deliver all six satellites in less than 2 years, Airbus has developed a coordinated production program to leverage the spacecraft manufacturing, integration and testing expertise across Airbus sites including Backnang (near Stuttgart), Friedrichshafen, Madrid, Ottobrunn (near Munich) and Toulouse. The second satellite structure is due to arrive in early 2024 and the third toward the end of next year. Airbus’ modular approach to the manufacturing of the G2 satellites will see three spacecraft being produced in parallel at any one time.

The G2 satellites will incorporate enhanced navigation antennas which will help improve accuracy of the flagship European Global Navigation Satellite System. The spacecraft, equipped with electric propulsion for the first time and higher strength navigation antennas, will also feature fully digital payloads which will be easily reconfigured in orbit, enabling them to actively respond to the evolving needs of users with novel signals and services.

The satellites, which benefit from Airbus’ heritage of the highly reliable Eurostar series of telecommunications satellites, will also incorporate six (rather than four) enhanced atomic clocks as well as intersatellite links, enabling them to communicate and cross-check with one another. This is intended to offer decimeter-scale precision positioning for users around the world. They will be controllable with an increased data rate to and from the ground and equipped with advanced jamming and spoofing protection mechanisms to safeguard Galileo signals. The spacecraft will operate in orbit for 15 years

The Full Operational Capability phase of the Galileo program is managed and funded by the European Union. The European Commission and ESA have signed an agreement by which ESA acts as design authority and system development prime on behalf of the Commission.