Galileo Constellation

Artist's impression of Galileo satellite constellation. Credits: ESA-J. Huart

Call for ideas in satellite navigation - Galileo Masters 2007

When fully deployed in 2011-2012, Galileo, Europe’s own global navigation satellite system, will be the world’s first completely civilian positioning system. Galileo will provide a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service and will be inter-operable with GPS and GLONASS, the two other global satellite navigation systems. Galileo is a joint initiative between ESA and the European Commission.

The fully deployed Galileo system will consist of 30 satellites, 27 operational plus 3 active spares, positioned in three circular Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) planes at 23 222 km altitude above the Earth.
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