European Space Agency (ESA) launches first Celeste satellites from New Zealand to test LEO navigation layer for Galileo

Key facts

• The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the first two Celeste satellites aboard a Rocket Lab Electron launcher from New Zealand on 28 March at 10:14 CET.
• The satellites separated into a quasi-polar low Earth orbit at 510 km and signal acquisition has been confirmed for both spacecraft.
• Celeste is an in-orbit demonstration mission to assess a complementary LEO layer for Galileo and aims to enable an operational PNT constellation from 2030.
• The current IOD phase plans 11 satellites in orbit plus one ground spare, totalling 12 satellites to be launched by end-2027.
• The next nine satellites, scheduled for launch by end-2027, will occupy a 560 km quasi-polar orbit with larger, more advanced payloads and extended frequencies.
• Two parallel industry consortia lead development: GMV Spain with OHB Germany, and Thales Alenia Space France with Thales Alenia Space Italy, involving over 50 entities.