Arianespace has launched satellites 15, 16, 17 and 18 in the Galileo satellite navigation system for the European Commission (DG Growth), within the scope of a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA). The Ariane 5 launch took place on 17 November from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.
Today’s launch was the eighth from the Guiana Space Center for Galileo and the first using an Ariane 5 launcher (ES version). Arianespace has now orbited 18 Galileo satellites, more than two-thirds of those that will eventually be deployed by the constellation, enabling Europe’s satellite navigation system to start services as early as the end of 2016.
The launch was the ninth of the year for Arianespace and the sixth with Ariane 5, marking the 75th launch in a row for this heavy-lift launcher and surpassing the previous record set by Ariane 4.
