On March 28, the European Space Agency (ESA) took a major step forward in strengthening Europe's ambition for more resilient satellite navigation, as the first two satellites of the Celeste in-orbit demonstration mission lifted off from New Zealand aboard Rocket Lab's Electron. Their mission is to begin testing a complementary low Earth orbit layer for Galileo.
Launch Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch Vehicle | Rocket Lab Electron |
| Launch Site | Māhia Launch Complex, New Zealand |
| Launch Time (CET) | March 28, 2026, 10:14 |
| Satellites | 2 (IOD-1 and IOD-2) |
| Orbit | Low Earth Orbit (LEO) |
| Mission Type | LEO-PNT In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) |
The two satellites — built respectively by GMV and Thales Alenia Space — were launched at 10:14 CET and separated from the launcher about an hour later. This marks the beginning of their early operations phase, during which mission control gets them ready for life in orbit.
About the Celeste Mission
Celeste is ESA's initiative for LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning Navigation and Timing) and is currently in its in-orbit demonstration phase. This first phase features a demonstration constellation of 11 satellites that will fly in low Earth orbit to test innovative signals across various frequency bands. Its goal is to advance satellite navigation concepts for resilient positioning, navigation and timing services.
"With this mission, we are exploring new frontiers for satellite navigation. Celeste will demonstrate how a satellite navigation constellation in low Earth orbit can complement Europe's current Galileo system in medium Earth orbit. Celeste was among the first ESA missions to embrace a New Space-inspired development approach, enabling faster and more flexible deployment of satellites and technical capabilities, and ultimately ensuring Europe stays at the forefront of innovation in satellite navigation." — ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher
Future Outlook
Following the demonstration activities, the Celeste in-orbit preparatory (IOP) phase, fully supported by ESA Member States at CM25, will leverage European industry to validate the technologies in-orbit and build pre-operational infrastructure. Ultimately, the results of the Celeste mission will prepare European industry and support the European Union's decision towards the establishment of an operational navigation layer in LEO, complementing Galileo and EGNOS.
Additional launches in 2027 will bring the mission to its full configuration of 11 spacecraft in orbit offering a wide range of experimentation opportunities in different frequency bands, user environments and applications.
Key Benefits
By flying closer to Earth, Celeste offers more robust signals and new frequencies. The mission will offer an in-orbit test bench for a broad range of applications:
- Enhanced navigation capabilities for autonomous vehicles, railway, maritime, and aviation
- Increased availability in urban canyons and remote polar and arctic regions
- Enhanced positioning and messaging with emergency services during disasters
- Tracking of connected devices and Internet-of-Things applications
- Even indoor navigation