17.12.2025

Spaceopal Successfully Conducts Launch and Early Orbit Operations for Two New Galileo Satellites

On 17 December 2025, Spaceopal, the Galileo Service Operator, successfully conducted the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) operations for the L14 Galileo mission, supporting the deployment of two new first-generation Galileo satellites, FM33 and FM34.

The satellites were launched aboard a Ariane 6 launcher from the Guiana Space Centre, marking the resumption of Galileo launches from Europe’s Spaceport. Following their separation from the launcher dispenser at around 11:00 CET, Spaceopal assumed responsibility for the most critical mission phase, ensuring the safe activation, verification and initial control of the satellites.

LEOP operations were carried out by highly experienced teams at the Galileo Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen (GCC-D), with the support of Spaceopal’s Core Team partners DLR GfR, Telespazio, SES and RSS.

Following the completion of initial checks and reconfigurations, both satellites were handed over to Spaceopal’s Routine Operations teams for continuous 24/7 monitoring and control, including throughout the Christmas period. The satellites have started drifting towards their final orbital slots, a process expected to last approximately eight weeks.

During the drift phase, Spaceopal teams will perform extensive platform commissioning and in-orbit testing (IOT) activities, including redundant payload tests planned for the end of January 2026. After reaching their final orbital positions in mid-February, final drift-stop and fine-positioning manoeuvres will be executed, followed by full payload in-orbit testing.

Navigation signal performance measurements will be collected using L-band, C-band and UHF antennas at the Redu Satellite Station. These measurements will support evaluations conducted by expert teams from the European Space Agency, EUSPA and European industry, confirming that the satellites’ payloads were not affected by launch conditions.

These activities rely on close coordination between operational teams at GCC-D Oberpfaffenhofen (Germany), GCC-I Fucino (Italy) and the IOT station in Redu (Belgium), demonstrating the strong multinational cooperation that underpins Galileo operations.

Following the successful L14 Post-Test Review in mid-March and the subsequent In-Orbit Test Review, both satellites will be integrated into the Galileo Ground Mission Segment and introduced into operational services, including High Accuracy and Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OS-NMA).