Inmarsat to handle Galileo in-orbit tests

Telecomworldwire, July 28, 2008

TELECOMWORLDWIRE-28 July 2008-Inmarsat to handle Galileo in-orbit tests(C)1994-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com

Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT), a provider of mobile satellite communications, has been awarded a contract to deploy and operate a Payload In-Orbit Test (IOT) facility at the European Space Agency ground station in Redu, Belgium for the Galileo system.

The German aerospace centre, DLR, awarded Inmarsat the contract to build an IOT measurement system, complemented by three high-performance antenna, which will be used during the four satellite In-Orbit Validation phase of the mission. Measurements taken from the four satellites comprising this part of the mission will be used to create a benchmark for the entire Galileo constellation and used to correct and/or minimise any possible source of error.

Inmarsat will use various subcontractors including Vertex, SED Systems and Siemens Austria to supplement its own engineers and operations personnel.

Galileo is a European alternative to the US Global Positioning System.

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