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\t\t\t\t\t\t28\/11\/2025
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On 17 December, two Galileo satellites will be launched on Ariane 6 from Europe\u2019s Spaceport in French Guiana in the 14th operational launch of the Galileo programme. These satellites will improve the precision, availability and robustness of the Galileo system by adding spares to guarantee the system can always provide a navigation signal for users worldwide.\u00a0This will be Galileo\u2019s first launch on Ariane 6 and the fifth launch of Europe\u2019s heavy-lift launcher.<\/p>\n
The two Galileo satellites, called SAT 33 and SAT 34, arrived in French Guiana on 6 November 2025. This article chronicles their journey by plane, by truck, and eventually by rocket\u00a0as they join Europe\u2019s independent satellite navigation constellation at 23\u00a0222 km above Earth.<\/p>\n
The European Space Agency (ESA) is responsible for the Galileo launch service contract with Arianespace on behalf of the European Commission. The Galileo satellites were manufactured by OHB, under contract with ESA. Once in orbit, the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) will bring the satellites into service and oversee their operation.<\/p>\n
This article was last updated on 28 November 2025.<\/p>\n
\t6 November: arrival in Kourou<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGalileo satellites arrive in French Guiana<\/a><\/p>\n After crossing the Atlantic, Galileo satellites 33 and 34 safely arrived in Kourou in preparation for their launch on Ariane 6, marking the official start of the launch campaign.<\/p>\n Their journey began on 4 November when they left the OHB premises in Bremen, Germany where they had been in storage. After travelling by road to Luxembourg, the satellites boarded a plane for their 9.5 hour flight to French Guiana. After the long flight, the satellites were carefully unloaded from the plane and transported by truck to Europe\u2019s Spaceport in French Guiana.<\/p>\n \t8-19 November: \u2018fit check\u2019 and functional tests<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tGalileo \u2018fit check\u2019 <\/a><\/p>\n After their safe arrival in Kourou, Galileo satellites 33 and 34 were taken out of their containers. \u00a0<\/p>\n Before their launch on Ariane 6, the satellites have to go through a ‘fit check’. This is the point in the launch campaign where the teams attach the satellites to the launcher adapter that will hold them during their flight into orbit, verifying the correct mating of the electrical and mechanical connections.<\/p>\n Along with the fit check, the satellites must also undergo functional testing. These tests ensure that all the satellite subsystems are working properly prior to launch. The final software on the satellites is also verified. Once the tests are complete, the satellites are switched off, not to be switched on again until they reach orbit.<\/p>\n \t27 November: satellite fuelling<\/p>\n