Galileo 9 and 10 Maintain Orbit with Moog Propulsion Systems
11 September 2015
Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B) Space and Defense Group will enable Galileo’s Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellites, Galileo 9 and 10, to maintain their orbit 22,522 km above Earth. The satellites launched today atop a Soyuz-STB Fregat-MT rocket from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The satellites, manufactured by OHB System AG in Bremen, Germany, are an integral part of Europe’s program for a global navigation satellite system, providing accurate, guaranteed global positioning service, interoperable with the US GPS and Russian GLONASS systems. The complete satellite system consists of 30 satellites in three planes of Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and a ground infrastructure.
Moog built the entire Galileo Propulsion System, which includes monopropellant engines, fill and drain valves, latch valves and pressure transducers including the complete thermal control system installation and harnessing. The propulsion system is a critical subsystem to the satellite, providing orbit maintenance and control capability, support of spacecraft de-tumbling, as well as attitude control in contingency cases. Moog leveraged the experience gained from the unique Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (formerly GLAST) and critical Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) propulsion systems with successful launches in 2008 and 2013, respectively, and the high production volume experience from the ORBCOMM Generation 2 (OG2) constellation.
Moog delivered all 14 propulsion systems for the first portion of the constellation, the second batch of eight is currently in the process of delivery. The complete system design, analysis, qualification, fabrication, acceptance testing, and delivery of this propulsion system was performed by Moog.
The design incorporates Moog-built components with robust designs and heritage such as fill and drain valves from the United Kingdom; latch valves from East Aurora, NY; pressure transducers from The Netherlands; and thrusters from Niagara Falls, NY. Final assembly and test is performed at the Niagara Falls facility that has been delivering spacecraft and missile propulsion systems for critical national assets for over four decades.
The Galileo satellites also include fine and cosine and fine sun sensors supplied by Moog. Sun sensors are designed to deliver exact information about the position of the sun. This vital information is used for yaw steering of the spacecraft and therefore applied in earth pointing, solar array orientation and orbit control maneuvers.
Two further satellites are scheduled for launch by end of this year. One is under test at ESA’s ESTEC technical centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, while the other has already completed its checks and is awaiting transportation to Kourou in the second half of October. In addition, the first two satellites of the following batch (Galileo 13 and 14) have arrived at ESTEC and are undergoing its thermal–vacuum test.
Moog Inc. is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems. Moog’s high-performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, automated industrial machinery, wind energy, marine and medical equipment. Additional information about the company can be found at www.moog.com. Additional information about Moog’s Space Sector can be found atwww.moog.com/space.
The Full Operational Capability phase of the Galileo programme is managed and fully funded by the European Union. The Commission and ESA have signed a delegation agreement by which ESA acts as design and procurement agent on behalf of the Commission. The views expressed in this Press Release can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union and/or ESA. “Galileo” is a trademark subject to OHIM application number 002742237 by EU and ESA.