GIOVE-B Satellite Launched Successfully

Released on Sunday, April 27, 2008

The ESA's second Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element (GIOVE-B) satellite of Europe's Galileo global navigation system, was launched at 00.16 CEST (Central European Summer Time) on 27 April 2008. Telespazio's Fucino Space Centre successfully managed the launch and early orbit phase (LEOP) of the satellite.

The launch phases of the GIOVE-B satellite were followed live by the Fucino Space Centre, during an event attended by Jacques Barrot, vice-president of the European Commission and transport commissioner, Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA's Director-General, Etelka Barsi-Pataki, Member of European Parliament and Rapporteur for Galileo, Andrea Annunziata, Italian undersecretary for transport, Giorgio Zappa, Finmeccanca's Chief Operating Officer and Giuseppe Veredice, Telespazio's CEO.

Finmeccanica, with the joint ventures Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space (which together are part of the Space Alliance created in 2007 with Thales) and with SELEX GALILEO, is playing a leading role in the development of the Galileo programme, contributing with its technological excellence and know-how to the most important European space programme.