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SSTL-900

Spacecraft · Europe

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Giove-A
Giove-A
Credit: Manufacturer Image

Surrey bus used for the Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element, a prototype for the Galileo European navigation satellite network.

More at: SSTL-900.

Subtopics

  • Eutelsat-Quantum Communication satellite built by Airbus Defence and Space (prime); SSTL (bus) for Eutelsat, ESA. Used the GMP-TL bus.
  • Giove European Galileo Navsat navigation system test satellite series. Used the SSTL-900 satellite bus, unlike the production satellites.

Related

Country
Europe
Launch Vehicles
R-7, Soyuz-FG
Launch Sites
Baikonur LC31
Bibliography
13199

Chronology

2 events

2005 December 28

05:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-FG.
  • Giove-A - . Payload: GSTB-V2/A / Heavily modified Surrey MiniSat-400. Mass: 600 kg (1,320 lb). Nation: Europe. Agency: ESA. Manufacturer: Surrey. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft: SSTL-900. USAF Sat Cat: 28922 . COSPAR: 2005-051A. Apogee: 23,360 km (14,510 mi). Perigee: 23,314 km (14,486 mi). Inclination: 56.20 deg. Period: 849.60 min.

    Delayed from September, October, December 26. Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element, a prototype for the Galileo European navigation satellite network. Giove carried carried two rubidium atomic clocks and a large L-band phased array antenna. Retired in 2012 as the production models went on-line.

2008 April 26

22:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-FG.
  • Giove-B - . Payload: GSTB-V2/B. Mass: 530 kg (1,160 lb). Nation: Europe. Agency: Starsem. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft: SSTL-900. USAF Sat Cat: 32781 . COSPAR: 2008-020A. Apogee: 23,244 km (14,443 mi). Perigee: 23,104 km (14,356 mi). Inclination: 56.00 deg. Period: 842.60 min.

    Second European Galileo navigation system test satellite. The booster placed the Giove/Fregat stack on a suborbital trajectory. The Fregat stage then burned to enter a a 170 km parking orbit. The stage burned at least twice more before releasing the satellite into its operational orbit. Retired in 2012 as the production models went on-line.