Javier Benedicto, ESA Director of Navigation, expressed enthusiasm about the project's potential, stating, "With Genesis and LEO-PNT, we are catering to the rapidly growing needs for enhanced resilience and precision in navigation, thereby cementing Europe's position at the helm of global satellite navigation, a sector that represents the largest downstream space market. Witnessing our industry's competitive edge in bringing these missions to fruition is truly exhilarating."
A consortium of 14 entities led by OHB Italia S.p.A. has been awarded a contract worth euro 76.6 million for the Genesis mission. This collaborative effort, supported by Italy, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Hungary, and the UK, is tasked with the development, manufacture, qualification, calibration, launch, and operation of the Genesis satellite, encompassing all its payloads. Set for launch in 2028, the Genesis mission is expected to usher in a new era of scientific exploration, significantly enhancing the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) with unparalleled accuracy.
Parallelly, ESA has committed euro 156.8 million towards the development of the LEO-PNT mission through two separate contracts. This mission will see the creation of two end-to-end low Earth orbit positioning, navigation, and timing (LEO-PNT) in-orbit demonstrators, encompassing the design and development of satellites and payloads, ground segment, test user segment, and satellite launches. Led by GMV Aerospace and Defence S.A.U. and Thales Alenia Space France S.A.S, these projects involve over 50 entities from 14 countries, showcasing a blend of seasoned industry veterans and innovative new players in space technology.
The LEO-PNT mission, with its first satellite expected to launch within 20 months from the initiative's kick-off, aims to complete its demonstration constellation in orbit before 2027. This ambitious project seeks to validate the benefits of novel signals and frequency bands for navigation, offering superior resilience, accuracy, and speed. By working in tandem with Galileo and other global navigation satellite systems, LEO-PNT will enhance signal robustness, extend service coverage to challenging environments such as deep urban areas and indoors, and support a wide range of applications from transportation to critical infrastructure and mobile devices.
As part of the FutureNAV programme, these missions underscore ESA's commitment to maintaining Europe's competitive edge in satellite navigation technology. By addressing current trends and future needs in positioning, navigation, and timing, ESA is poised to lead the way in the evolution of global satellite navigation systems, ensuring Europe's continued leadership in this critical field.
Related Links
Navigation at ESA
GPS Applications, Technology and Suppliers
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