# GSAT0103

> European navigation validation satellite in the Galileo constellation

**Wikidata**: [Q14083940](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14083940)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gsat0103

## Summary
GSAT0103 is a European navigation validation satellite and part of the Galileo constellation, specifically designed to test and validate the Galileo navigation system. Launched in 2012, it operates in medium Earth orbit and is classified under the Galileo In-Orbit Validation (IOV) model. The satellite plays a critical role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the Galileo global navigation system.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: October 12, 2012, at 18:15:00 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-2.1b (serial number B 15000-002) with a Fregat-MT upper stage.
- **Mass**: 640 kg (launch weight).
- **Manufacturers**: Astrium (primary) and Thales Alenia Space (assembly, integration, and testing).
- **COSPAR ID**: 2012-055A.
- **Orbital Parameters**: 56° inclination, 0.0 eccentricity, and a semi-major axis of 29,599.8 km.
- **Operators**: European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA).
- **Solar Power**: Equipped with 2 spacecraft solar arrays.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of GSAT0103?
A: GSAT0103 is a navigation validation satellite used to test and verify the functionality of the Galileo global navigation system, ensuring its accuracy and reliability.

### Q: When and where was GSAT0103 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on October 12, 2012, from the Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz in Kourou, French Guiana.

### Q: What type of rocket was used to deploy GSAT0103?
A: It was launched aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket with a Fregat-MT upper stage.

## Why It Matters
GSAT0103 is significant as part of the Galileo In-Orbit Validation phase, a critical step in deploying Europe’s independent global navigation system. By validating the system’s performance, GSAT0103 helped ensure the Galileo constellation meets precision and reliability standards, supporting applications like aviation, maritime navigation, and emergency response. As one of the early validation satellites, it contributed to the transition from development to operational use, enhancing Europe’s technological autonomy in global positioning systems.

## Notable For
- **Validation Role**: Part of the Galileo IOV phase to test navigation signals and system performance.
- **Technical Specifications**: Operates in a circular medium Earth orbit with precise orbital parameters (0.0 eccentricity).
- **Manufacturing Collaboration**: Built through a partnership between Astrium and Thales Alenia Space.
- **Launch Heritage**: Deployed via a Soyuz-2.1b rocket, demonstrating European-Russian launch cooperation.

## Body
### Mission Overview
GSAT0103, also known as Galileo-IOV FM3, is a navigation satellite designed to validate the Galileo system’s signals and infrastructure. It operates alongside other IOV satellites to ensure interoperability and accuracy, forming the foundation for the full Galileo constellation.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: 640 kg at launch.
- **Power**: 2 solar arrays for energy generation.
- **Orbit**: Medium Earth orbit with a 56° inclination and 29,599.8 km semi-major axis.
- **Design**: Based on the Galileo In-Orbit Validation model, optimized for signal testing and validation.

### Launch Details
- **Date/Time**: October 12, 2012, at 18:15:00 UTC.
- **Launch Site**: Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz (ELS) in Kourou, French Guiana.
- **Rocket**: Soyuz-2.1b (B 15000-002) with a Fregat-MT upper stage (serial 1031).

### Orbital Parameters
- **Eccentricity**: 0.0 (circular orbit).
- **Inclination**: 56° relative to the equator.
- **Semi-Major Axis**: 29,599.8 km, maintaining a stable orbital altitude.

### Operators and Maintenance
Operated by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), GSAT0103 is monitored as part of the broader Galileo system. Its performance data is publicly available through the Galileo Service Centre.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Satellite",
  "name": "GSAT0103",
  "description": "European navigation validation satellite in the Galileo constellation",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q728945"
  ],
  "identifier": [
    {
      "@type": "PropertyValue",
      "name": "COSPAR ID",
      "value": "2012-055A"
    },
    {
      "@type": "PropertyValue",
      "name": "NSSDCA ID",
      "value": "2012-055A"
    }
  ],
  "manufacturer": [
    {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "Astrium"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "Thales Alenia Space"
    }
  ],
  "launchDate": "2012-10-12",
  "mass": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "value": 640,
    "unitText": "kg"
  }
}

## References

1. [Source](https://www.gsc-europa.eu/system-status/orbital-and-technical-parameters)
2. [Source](https://www.esa.int/Applications/Satellite_navigation/Galileo/Galileo_partners)
3. [Source](https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/Deployment_of_Europe_s_Galileo_constellation_continues)
4. Jonathan's Space Report
5. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/galileo-iov.htm)
6. [Source](https://www.gsc-europa.eu/system-service-status/orbital-and-technical-parameters)