Brussels 09/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - The incorrect launch of the two Galileo satellites at the end of August is the result of fuel freezing in the upper level of the Russian Soyouz rocket carrying them. The other launches of Galileo satellites have been suspended, pending corrective measures. Scenarios for the use of these two incorrectly positioned satellites are now on the table.
The independent enquiry into the Galileo incident returned its definitive report on Wednesday 8 October. The anomaly which occurred during the launch is the result of a thermal analysis in the design of this level, which allows the committee of enquiry to rule out any operator error in assembly, or any problem with the Galileo satellites themselves. Arianespace has promised that corrective measures will be set in place, in collaboration with the Russian authorities, so that the launches using Soyouz rockets can resume in December.
The European Commission is now studying the results of the report. However, it has suspended the launch of Galileo satellites scheduled for the end of the month, without setting any alternative date.
Scenarios. Last week, the European Space Agency sent the Commission another report, outlining the various possible options to allow the two satellites put into the wrong orbit to be used for the European radio-navigation programme, Galileo. The Commission will take a position on the possible options in the coming weeks.
Operating responsibilities. In the meantime, the management of the programme continues and the operating responsibilities of the European radio-navigation programme, Galileo, which aims to become the European equivalent of GPS, are now in the hands of the European GNSS Agency (GSA). In Prague (where the GSA is based) on Thursday 9 October, the European Commission signed an agreement to this effect, which will run until 2021. (MD)