On its fourth launch of the year, which will be the second mission in 2016 utilizing a Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, Arianespace will orbit two more satellites for the Galileo constellation. This mission, performed on behalf of the European Commission and within the framework of a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA), will orbit the 13^th and 14^th Galileo FOC (Full Operational Capacity) satellites.

Following this flight, 14 Galileo satellites will have been launched by Arianespace, which is proud to address Europe’s need with its launcher family. By the end of 2016, an Ariane 5 ES launcher version will carry four additional satellites for the Galileo constellation.

Designated Flight VS15 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system, the liftoff will be from the Soyuz Launch Complex (ELS) in Sinnamary, French Guiana (South America).

The launcher will be carrying a total payload of 1,599 kg. 

The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) will take place on Monday, May 23, 2016 in Kourou, to authorize the start of operations for the final countdown.

Galileo, an emblematic European program

The new Galileo global satellite navigation system is an emblematic European Union program – lead by its Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROWTH); with ESA assigned the responsibility for design and procurement.

The Galileo FOC (Full Operational Capacity) satellites are built in Europe by OHB System of Bremen, Germany as prime contractor, with all payloads supplied by SSTL (Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.), a British subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space.

For further information, download the launch kit at the following address: https://www.arianespace.com/press-kits/

To watch a live, high-speed online transmission of the launch (including commentary from the launch site in French and English), go to arianespace.com on May 24, 2016, starting 20 minutes before liftoff.

You also can follow the launch live on your iPhone or iPad (the Arianespace HD app is free).

About Arianespace 

To use space for a better life on earth, Arianespace guarantees access to space transportation services and solutions for any type of satellite, commercial as well as institutional, into any orbit.

Since 1980, Arianespace has performed missions placing more than 500 satellites into orbit with its three launchers: Ariane, Soyuz and Vega.

Arianespace is headquartered in Evry, France near Paris, and has a facility at the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, plus local offices in Washington, D.C., Tokyo and Singapore.