MISSION NAME
Galileo L2 (IOV FM03-FM04) 04
Status
Success
DATE
12 OCT 2012
LAUNCH PROVIDER
Arianespace
Launch Pad
Soyuz Launch Complex
Description
The 3rd and 4th In Orbit Validation satellites of the Galileo constellation. The Galileo constellation is ESA's satellite navigation system and is expected to be completed by 2020. Galileo will provide Europe with an alternative to the American GPS and Russian GLONASS constellations, but will be interoperable with both systems.
Soyuz STB Fregat-MT
Rocket Description
The 2.1b version adds an upgraded engine (RD-0124) with improved performance to the second stage. First launch took place from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 on 26 July 2008 with a classified military payload. The 2.1b/ST version is sometimes called Soyuz ST-B.