On 28th March 2026, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the first two Celeste demonstration satellites. This mission initiates ESA’s testing of a complementary low Earth orbit (LEO) layer to enhance Galileo’s resilience for European satellite navigation.
Built by GMV and Thales Alenia Space, the spacecraft launched from New Zealand via Rocket Lab’s Electron. Following a 10:14 CET liftoff, early operations commenced. They will validate core technologies, and new signals on L- and S-band frequencies.
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher stated: “With this mission, we are exploring new frontiers for satellite navigation. Celeste will demonstrate how a satellite navigation constellation in low Earth orbit can complement Europe’s current Galileo system in medium Earth orbit. Celeste was among the first ESA missions to embrace a New Space-inspired development approach, enabling faster and more flexible deployment of satellites and technical capabilities, and ultimately ensuring Europe stays at the forefront of innovation in satellite navigation.”
Francisco-Javier Benedicto Ruiz, ESA’s Director of Navigation, added: “Over the past two decades, satellite navigation has become integral to our society. Galileo and EGNOS are a European success today, fuelling our society, generating economic growth while ensuring our independence and security. With Celeste, ESA is ensuring that Europe continues to pioneer innovation in positioning, navigation and timing. The mission will demonstrate how a complementary layer in low Earth orbit can enhance Europe’s current navigation systems, making them more resilient, more robust, and capable of delivering entirely new services.”
LEO altitude offers robust signals and new frequency options, enabling diverse applications: enhanced navigation for autonomous systems, improved availability in challenging areas, and advanced positioning for emergency services.
Subsequently, the Celeste in-orbit preparatory (IOP) phase, backed by ESA Member States, will engage industry to validate technologies and build pre-operational infrastructure. Its findings will inform the European Union’s decision on an operational LEO navigation layer, augmenting Galileo and EGNOS.
Celeste, ESA’s LEO Positioning Navigation and Timing (LEO-PNT) initiative, saw its demonstration phase approved at ESA’s 2022 Ministerial Council and expanded at CM25. It contributes to the European Resilience from Space (ERS) program.
Published by James Hydzik
James Hydzik is a technology geek focused on the junction of engineering, writing, and coffee. He joined Orbital Today in 2020 to help make sense of the Johnson government’s decision to buy OneWeb. Since then, he has taken on interviewing and editor-in-chief roles. James learned the ropes of editing and writing with Financial Times magazines, The World Bank, PwC, and Ericsson. Thus far, interviewing New Space movers has put the biggest smile on his workaday face. The son of an Electrical Engineer, James understands the value of putting complex topics into clear language for those with a lay person’s understanding of the subject. James is a European transplant from the United States, and as ex-KA3LLL, he now holds European amateur radio licenses. His next radio project is a portable 10GHz EME (moonbounce) station, as it combines his childhood interests in antennas and space.