Galileo case study

Satellite Control Antenna Systems

ASTRA TechCom Services is a contractor for Galileo, the future global satellite navigation system for Europe. The Galileo satellite fleet will operate in medium Earth orbit and its satellites require several full-motion 13-metre telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) antennas for ground control.

The two TT&C antennas provided by TechCom are designed to operate for wind conditions of 150km/h without impacting the pointing and tracking performance. The antennas have been installed in different locations: one above the polar circle – at Esrange/Kiruna, Sweden - and the other near the equatorial rim – in Kourou, French Guiana.

The Galileo infrastructure in Kourou is located inside the Guiana Space Centre and was inaugurated in November 2009. This site will play an essential role in Galileo, since it will accommodate the most comprehensive of the Galileo ground segment stations. The project included the design, manufacture, engineering and on-site installation of the antennas, as well as personnel training.

The commercial relationship between TechCom and the European Space Agency (ESA) for the Galileo programme started in 2006, when together with technology company HITEC Luxembourg, TechCom was chosen as a lead partner for the provision of the two TT&C antenna systems.

TechCom's wide-ranging technical expertise and experience of several satellite ground control and TT&C infrastructures for major satellite programmes around the globe were some of the main reasons for the contract award.

The site was inaugurated in the presence of René Oosterlinck, Director of the Galileo programme and navigation-related activities at ESA, and of Joël Barre, Director of CNES/CSG.
Credits: ESA/CNES/ARIANESPACE - Photo Optique Video CSG, P. Baudon, 2009