Brussels, 25/08/2014 (Agence Europe) - Another tough blow to Galileo, the European project designed to replace the US GPS system. After their successful launch on Friday 20 August, the fifth and sixth satellites of the constellation failed three hours later to reach their intended orbit.
The European Commission has called on Arianespace and the European Space Agency to report back to it on the matter. The failure could cost the Community as much as €150 million.
On 22 August, Arianespace admitted that the upper level of the Russian launcher, Soyuz, had placed the two satellites into a noncompliant orbit and referred to an “orbital injection anomaly”. Instead of attaining the targeted circular orbit, inclined at 55 degrees with a semi major axis of 29,900 kilometres, the satellites are now in an elliptical orbit, with a semi major axis of 26,200 km and inclined at 49.8 degrees. Stéphane Israel, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace immediately announced that the aim “is of course to fully understand this anomaly”.
In response to this “very unfortunate” launch, European Commissioner for Space Ferdinando Nelli Feroci said that the European Commission had called on Arianespace and the European Space Agency to carry out an enquiry to identify the causes of this incident and assess whether they will be able to use these satellites in the Galileo programme. A preliminary report is expected by the middle of September, before a comprehensive report over the next two months. Corrective measures against Arianespace have been spoken of, in an effort to prevent any similar incident reoccurring during the next launch. In total, some ten other launches are planned by 2020.
After the failed launch and subsequent cost of €70 million, the satellites, each worth €40 million, are, nonetheless, functioning correctly. However, if their incorrect positioning means that they cannot be used in the Galileo programme, this will mean €150 million in lost investment for the EU. The programme was supposed to ensure the EU's independence in space and this failure comes on top of a number of other setbacks, including mounting delays and the extra costs experienced since 2008. (MD)