GIOVE

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This article is about satellites. For other uses, see GIOVE (disambiguation).

GIOVE, or Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element is the name for each satellite in a set of two being built to test technology for the Galileo positioning system in orbit. These validation satellites were previously known as the Galileo System Testbed (GSTB).

GIOVE is also the Italian word for "Jupiter". It was chosen as a tribute to Galileo Galilei who discovered the first four natural satellites of Jupiter, and later discovered that they could be used as a universal clock to obtain the longitude of a point on the Earth's surface.

[edit] GIOVE-A

Previously known as GSTB-V2/A, this satellite was constructed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) for the European Space Agency, and was launched on December 28, 2005. Its mission has the main goal of claiming the frequencies allocated to Galileo by the ITU. It also tests the design of an on-board rubidium clock and the orbital characteristics for future satellites. The satellite successfully transmitted its first navigation signals at 17:25 GMT on 12 January 2006.

GIOVE-A is the first spacecraft whose design is based upon SSTL's new GMP satellite bus, intended for geostationary orbit. GIOVE-A is also SSTL's first satellite outside low Earth orbit, in medium Earth orbit.

[edit] GIOVE-B

This satellite (previously called GSTB-V2/B) will have a similar mission, but will also fly a hydrogen maser clock and will have improved signal transmission hardware.