LAUNCH MISSION
Arianespace Soyuz STB Fregat Galileo L6 (FOC FM08-FM09)
Launch Pad
Soyuz Launch Complex
Description
The 7th and 8th Full Operational Capability satellites will be the 11th and 12th Galileo satellites launched, alongside the 6 FOC and 4 IOV spacecraft already in orbit. The Galileo constellation is ESA's satellite navigation system and is expected to be completed by 2020. Galileo will provide Europe with an alternative to the American GPS and Russian GLONASS constellations, but will be interoperable with both systems.
Soyuz STB Fregat
Rocket Description
The 2.1b version adds an upgraded engine (RD-0124) with improved performance to the second stage. First launch took place from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 on 26 July 2008 with a classified military payload. The 2.1b/ST version is sometimes called Soyuz ST-B.