GIOVE-B calling Earth

08 May 2008

Galileo launched its second experimental satellite on April 26, 2008. Just eleven days after launch GIOVE-B transmitted its first signals over 23,000 km back to Earth.

The first satellite of Galileo's In-Orbit-Validation Element mission, GIOVE-A, was launched in December 2005 and transmitted its first useful navigation message eighteen months later.
The GIOVE-B signals, which will provide higher accuracy in challenging environments where multipath and interference are present and deeper penetration for indoor navigation, are locked on-board to a highly stable Passive Hydrogen Maser clock, demonstrating that Galileo and GPS are truly compatible and interoperable.