Two more satellites strengthen Europe's Galileo network
Two new satellites, SAT 33 and SAT 34, have joined Europe's Galileo navigation constellation to enhance global positioning reliability. The satellites were successfully launched via Ariane 6 and have completed their early operations phase.
Why it matters
Strengthening the Galileo network ensures continued operational autonomy and precision for global navigation services used by billions.
Two new satellites have officially joined Europe's Galileo satellite navigation constellation, reinforcing its capability, resilience and operational autonomy. SAT 33 and SAT 34 bring added redundancy to what is widely regarded as the world's most advanced global navigation satellite system, supporting continuous, reliable data provision for billions of users worldwide. Four Galileo First Generation satellites remain to be launched, with the next pair scheduled for the end of the year. Over the past months, mission operators at the Galileo Control Centre in Germany (GCC-D) have been busy preparing the latest two Galileo satellites for operational service. Launched in December 2025, the mission benefitted from the most precise orbital injection ever achieved for Galileo, a near-perfect insertion that confirmed the high performance of Ariane 6.
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