Arianespace on Wednesday successfully placed two Galileo navigation satellites, SAT 33 and SAT 34, into medium Earth orbit aboard its heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket, marking the 14th Galileo mission. The satellites lifted off at 2:01 a.m. local time from Europe’s Spaceport and were deployed about four hours later to strengthen the precision, availability and resilience of Europe’s satellite navigation system, the company said.
The flight, designated VA266, was the fifth launch of the Ariane 6 and the first time the launcher has carried Galileo spacecraft, demonstrating its versatility and helping Europe secure independent access to space for its flagship navigation program, the company said.
