Giove-A, the first Galileo pilot satellite launched on December 28th, has transmitted its signals to the Earth stations using the Navigation Signal Generation Unit (NSGU) and the wide-band Navigation Antenna developed by Alcatel Alenia Space.
Giove-A main objective is to secure access to the frequencies allocated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for the Galileo system.
Signals are broadcasted through an L-band phased-array antenna designed to cover the visible Earth from the Medium Earth Orbit.
"Giove-A first signals transmission is another success for Alcatel Alenia Space. We are very proud to contribute to Giove-A important mission and to Galileo satellite deployment" declared Carlo Alberto Penazzi, CEO of Alcatel Alenia Space in Italy. "In addition to our contribution to Giove-A, Alcatel Alenia Space is a major actor in the construction of Giove-B, the second satellite of the Galileo constellation which will enable to test critical new technologies in orbit. This satellite is currently in our integration centre in Rome for testing and final assembly."
Galileo is the European navigation satellite system, providing highly accurate positioning services to nomad users. It will be interoperable with the US Global Positioning System (GPS) and Russia's Global Navigation Satellite System (Glonass), the two other global satellite navigation systems.
Alcatel Alenia Space
Brussels (XNA) Jan 17, 2006
