Europe’s Galileo navigation system is set to take another step forward next week as two additional satellites launch aboard an Ariane 6 rocket, using Beyond Gravity’s payload fairing, and thermal insulation. For the satellite, the company has supplied the critical computer and thermal systems that contribute to keeping the satellites operational in orbit – reinforcing Beyond Gravity’s long-standing role in Europe’s most precise and resilient timing and positioning infrastructure.

When the next pair of Galileo satellites lifts off from French Guiana on December 17 aboard an Ariane 6 rocket, they will carry several mission-critical systems from Beyond Gravity. The two satellites will join the constellation of 32 Galileo satellites in orbit, 27 of which are currently active. The additional satellites will strengthen Europe’s independent, civilian-controlled global navigation capability. “Galileo is the world’s most accurate navigation system—and we are proud to have been a key contributor to its development from the outset. Our highly reliable key components, including computer and thermal systems, ensure the smooth operation of the satellites in orbit. This underscores our central role in Europe’s independent satellite navigation system – a crucial pillar of Europe’s technological sovereignty in space”, says Oliver Grassmann, Executive Vice President Satellites at Beyond Gravity, a leading supplier to the space industry headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. The company supplied a range of mission-critical mechanical, thermal and electronics products to European Space Agency’s satellite prime contractor, OHB System AG in Bremen, Germany.

“Brain” for Galileo satellites

At the core of each Galileo satellite is the onboard computer – the spacecraft’s “brain”. Developed by Beyond Gravity the computer runs the onboard data handling software from OHB. The computer monitors the payload, manages the satellite’s status and environment, and ensures smooth coordination between the many subsystems that enable precise navigation signals. 

Galileo mission antennas

Beyond Gravity also provided the mission antennas to the two satellites. The mission antenna uploads mission data that is later used by the satellite to generate the navigation message disseminated to Galileo users.

Thermal insulation protects the Galileo satellites

In orbit, the European Galileo satellites face extreme temperature variations of up to 400 degrees Celsius, depending if they face the sun or not. Beyond Gravity’s multilayer thermal insulation is the utmost outer layer of the satellite. It protects the instruments and core electronics against these harsh conditions. The highly efficient insulation consists of several layers of metal-evaporated polyimide film. 

Aligning the satellite’s solar arrays towards the sun

The European navigation satellites rely on constant power from the sun. Beyond Gravity’s rotating drive mechanisms ensure the solar panels remain optimally aligned, following the sun through each orbit. These mechanisms, installed on every Galileo spacecraft, help ensure reliable power generation, enabling uninterrupted operation of Europe’s most precise navigation signals.

Making Europe’s satellite navigation more precise and resilient

Galileo’s evolution extends beyond the current constellation. The European Space Agency (ESA) is developing a new, more resilient satellite navigation system that can be combined with the existing Galileo navigation system. New navigation satellites in low Earth orbit (approximately 500 kilometers above the Earth's surface) are intended to supplement existing satellite navigation systems such as GPS and Galileo (at an altitude of around 23,000 kilometers) and make them more resilient and secure, for example against GPS jamming attacks. The project is running under the name Celeste or LEO-PNT (Low-Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing). At the end of the year, the first two prototype satellites (Pathfinder A) will be launched into Earth orbit, with eight more to follow in 2026 to demonstrate the system concept. Due to their lower altitude and greater number, these new navigation satellites are much more difficult for an attacker to jam than GPS or Galileo. Beyond Gravity is a key payload partner alongside the space companies GMV (Spain) and OHB System AG (Germany). Beyond Gravity provides crucial technology for the digital signal generation and the payload system clock. This critical component ensures unparalleled navigation signal integrity alongside timing accuracy and stability, underpinned by Beyond Gravity’s payload self-calibration techniques.

Payload fairing protects the satellite

The top of the Ariane 6 rocket, designed and assembled by ArianeGroup, consists of the payload fairing from Beyond Gravity made of carbon fiber composite. The fairing has a diameter of 5.4 meters. Produced at the Beyond Gravity site in Emmen, Switzerland, the two halves of the payload fairing protect the satellite from the harsh forces experienced during launch and the early flight stages.

Insulation for Ariane 6

In Austria, Beyond Gravity produced the high-temperature insulation for the rocket engines of the launcher’s lower and upper stage. This thermal solution is designed to protect the Vulcain engine on the lower stage and Vinci engine on the kick stage and endure extreme temperatures up to 1,500 degrees Celsius for several minutes.

Gimbal Mechanism for upper stage

For Ariane 6, the Austrian Beyond Gravity site is also supplying a gimbal mechanism for the upper stage of the rocket. The mechanism serves as a joint to align the engine for the thrust vector control of the rocket's upper stage. The special mechanism, which weighs just ten kilograms, has to transmit the thrust forces of 15 tons, comparable to the force of a diesel locomotive.

Galileo provides global positioning, navigation and timing

The European Navigation System Galileo, also dubbed the “European GPS”, is created by the European Union through the European Space Agency (ESA) and operated by the European Union Agency for the Space Program. Galileo is a civil satellite navigation system that provides global positioning, navigation and timing. With at least four satellites constantly visible to the user, positioning becomes much more accurate than with previous systems, down to a meter.

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