Galileo GIOVE-A Successful Launch with Marotta Propulsion Systems On Board

Marotta UK Ltd is pleased to announce that it has designed, developed and qualified equipment for the cold gas propulsion systems on board the Galileo GIOVE-A, part of Europe’s Galileo navigation program, successfully launched by Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd (SSTL).

The launch of the Galileo GIOVE-A, the first in a constellation of 30 satellites, marks Europe’s maiden entry into civilian-owned global positioning systems. The complete Galileo constellation (27 operational and 3 active spares) will deliver real-time positioning accuracy down to one meter. By placing the satellites in orbit at a greater inclination to the equatorial plane than current global positioning systems, Galileo will achieve better coverage at high altitudes, which makes it suitable for use over northern Europe, an area presently not well covered by GPS.

With a lead time of only four months, Marotta worked in close collaboration with SSTL to improve performance of and re-qualify its heritage DMC flight-qualified hardware, and contributed to the success of the platform build program with on-time delivery of propulsion system equipment series redundant, specialty valves controlling the flow of gas to the thrusters, as well as high-performance valves for propellant loading during launch preparation.

“The Galileo GIOVE-A launch marks the beginning of a landmark program for the European community,” said Michael Leahan, Vice President and Chief Sales Officer of Marotta Controls, parent company of Marotta UK. “We are proud to contribute our heritage propulsion technologies to this long awaited and exciting program.”