Should Fit The Soyuz Like A Well-Fitted Thales Glove

The second test satellite in the Galileo navigation constellation is on its way to ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, from Thales Alenia Space’s plant in Rome. In Rome, Thale’s plant conducted satellite integration, platform and system tests, as well as vibration and shock assessments. The satellite in focus is the Glove-B and the unit also passed the thermal-vacuum test with flying colors, which demonstrated the vehicle’s suitability for shipment. Prime contractor Thales and the production team including Telspazio, EADS Astrium and ESA have now completed all of the preliminary tests that duplicate the in-orbit environments to be confronted by Glove-B.



Once these additional tests are completed in The Netherlands, the satellite will then be moving along to the Baikonur Cosmodrome to initiate launch preparations on a Soyuz rocket, scheduled to occur at the end of this year. The Glove-B will provide in-orbit testing of the atomic clocks, the cornerstone of the navigation system as well as other critical Galileo technologies—Rome, Italy