At long last the launch of the first two real GALILEO satellites is near. This Thursday, October 20, 2011, the first real GALILEO satellites will be launched. This phase of the GALILEO developments is called the "IOV" phase which stands for "In Orbit Validation".

An interesting feature of this launch is that although it is from Kourou it is not with an Arianne launcher. The launch is with a Soyuz rocket and this is actually the very first Soyuz launch from Kourou. So a number of firsts are coming together, so lets keep our fingers crossed that all goes smooth!

For detailed information please look at the ESA web-site.
Special ESA IOV website.

Live coverage of launch will be supplied on the ESA website and a number of other websites, e.g., European parlement and DLR Oberpfaffenhofen

GALILEO IOV Artist Impression Picture from European Space Agency (ESA)

Labels: Galileo, IOV, Launch