On a great day for the European space sector, the European Space Agency and the European Commission, the first heavy-lift Ariane 5 ES launched four satellites for the Galileo constellation on Thursday 17 November. Galileo is Europe’s global satellite navigation system.
With the combined weight of the four satellites, Ariane 5 ES placed a total payload of 2,865 kg into orbit. Some 18 of the European programme’s satellites have been put into orbit by Arianespace. Galileo is due to...