"Union" has put into orbit Galileo satellites
Patriotic rocket "Soyuz-ST-B", launched from Kourou in French Guiana, successfully launched into orbit the spacecraft Galileo. In the space formed approximately one third of the planned large-scale system positioning - analogue of the Russian GLONASS and American GPS.
It tells the Department of public relations of the Russian space Agency, the launch vehicle "Soyuz-ST-B" put into calculated orbit two European satellite Galileo FOC M3. The company Arianespace, which is responsible for launch from Kourou, approved successful conclusion of the satellites. "The mission is successfully executed. Almost smoothly, everything went according to the planned intent," announced the head of the firm Stephan Israel.
Bred for working orbit satellites were manufactured for the European space Agency, and became 5 and the sixth of the full operated devices of the Galileo system. The weight of the first apparatus - RUR 714.6 kg, 2 - 713,2 kg.. They are designed to work for at least 12 years, reports TASS.
As explained by the Director of the Galileo programme, European space Agency Didier Favre, a full-scale operation of the system will be achieved after the withdrawal of 24 satellites into orbit, but the organization expects to place in orbit and 6 backup satellites. In other words in the system will have 30 satellites.
Work on Galileo began in 2000. This analogue of the Russian GLONASS and the American GPS was developed by ESA with the support of the European Union. At the moment the EU has spent on the program Galileo more than 5 billion euros for the period up to 2020, it is expected that the expenditure will amount to seven billion euros.
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