GIOVE-A Marks Four Years In Orbit Testing Europe's GPS Galileo Platform
Sam Wormley
http://www.gpsdaily.com/reports/GIOVE_A_Marks_Four_Years_In_Orbit_Testing_Europes_GPS_Galileo_Platform_999.html
by Staff Writers
Guildford, UK (SPX) Dec 28, 2009
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) is today celebrating the 4th
anniversary of the launch of its historic GIOVE-A satellite - the first
step in Europe's visionary Galileo satellite navigation programme - on
December 28th 2005. During the past 4 years, SSTL and GIOVE-A have
contributed significantly to the testing and validation of technologies
vital to the now imminent operational constellation of satellites. The
660 kg GIOVE-A satellite was built by SSTL for ESA in just 30 months at
a cost of just 28m Euros.
SSTL CEO Dr. Matt Perkins commented, "SSTL is proud of its involvement
with the Galileo programme and the continuing success of GIOVE-A. This
mission has clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of SSTL's small
satellite approach for the delivery of operational missions."