The European Space Agency has launched the first two satellites of its Celeste in-orbit demonstration mission to test a complementary low Earth orbit layer for Galileo. The satellites lifted off from New Zealand aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket and entered the early operations phase after separation from the launcher. The mission is designed to strengthen Europe’s satellite navigation system by adding new capabilities in positioning, navigation and timing.
Mission Objective
Celeste will demonstrate how a low Earth orbit constellation can complement Galileo, which operates in medium Earth orbit. The mission aims to improve resilience, robustness and service continuity for European navigation users. It is also intended to support Europe’s strategic autonomy in satellite navigation.
Satellite Development and Launch
- The two satellites were built by GMV and Thales Alenia Space.
- They were launched at 10:14 CET from New Zealand.
- After launch, the satellites separated from the rocket about an hour later.
- They will now undergo early operations and commissioning in orbit.
Technology and Services
Celeste will validate core technologies, new signals and service capabilities. It will also bring into use the required L-band and S-band frequencies for the mission’s operational phase, in line with International Telecommunication Union regulations. The mission will test applications such as autonomous vehicles, railways, maritime transport, aviation, emergency services, Internet of Things tracking and indoor navigation.
Future Expansion
Additional launches in 2027 are planned to complete the constellation with 11 spacecraft. The full mission will provide experimentation opportunities across different frequency bands, user environments and applications. The results are expected to support Europe’s move towards an operational low Earth orbit navigation layer alongside Galileo and EGNOS.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026