# GSAT0214

> navigation satellite in the Galileo constellation

**Wikidata**: [Q28058239](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28058239)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gsat0214

## Summary
GSAT0214, also known as Tijmen or Galileo-FOC FM14, is a navigation satellite that operates as part of the European Galileo constellation. Manufactured by OHB System AG and Surrey Satellite Technology, it serves as a unit of the Galileo Full Operational Capability (FOC) generation. The satellite was successfully launched into medium Earth orbit on November 17, 2016, aboard an Ariane 5ES rocket.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of Galileo Full Operational Capability (FOC), a class of navigation satellite.
- **Aliases:** Tijmen, Galileo-FOC FM14, Galileo 18, GalileoSat-18, Galileo FM14.
- **Launch Date:** November 17, 2016, at 13:06:55 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Ariane 5ES (Flight VA233).
- **Launch Site:** ELA-3 (Ensemble de Lancement Ariane).
- **Orbit:** Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) with a semi-major axis of 29,599.8 km, inclination of 56.0 degrees, and eccentricity of 0.0.
- **Mass:** 733 kilograms (launch weight).
- **Design Life:** 12 years.
- **Operator:** European Union Agency for the Space Programme.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 2016-069D; NSSDCA ID 2016-069D; SCN 41862.

## FAQs
### Q: What is GSAT0214?
A: GSAT0214 is a navigation satellite in the Galileo constellation, specifically a Full Operational Capability (FOC) model named "Tijmen." It provides navigation services from medium Earth orbit.

### Q: When and how was GSAT0214 launched?
A: GSAT0214 was launched on November 17, 2016, using an Ariane 5ES launch vehicle (Flight VA233) from the ELA-3 launch complex.

### Q: Who manufactured and operates GSAT0214?
A: The satellite was manufactured by OHB System AG and Surrey Satellite Technology. It is currently operated by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme.

## Why It Matters
GSAT0214 (Tijmen) plays a vital role in the European Union's Galileo program, which aims to provide a highly accurate, independent global navigation satellite system (GNSS) under civilian control. As part of the Full Operational Capability (FOC) phase, GSAT0214 contributes to the completion of the constellation, ensuring that the system can deliver full global coverage for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.

The satellite is significant for its technical resilience and design. Built on the SmartMEO spacecraft bus, it is designed for a service life of 12 years and relies on two spacecraft solar arrays for power. Its launch aboard the Ariane 5ES in 2016 underscored Europe's ability to deploy its own navigation infrastructure using domestic launch vehicles. By maintaining a precise circular orbit with zero eccentricity and a specific inclination of 56.0 degrees, GSAT0214 helps maximize the coverage and accuracy of the Galileo network for users worldwide.

## Notable For
- **Galileo Constellation Component:** Serves as a critical node in the EU's global navigation system.
- **Operational Design:** Built with a design life of 12 years and a launch mass of 733 kg.
- **Specific Orbital Slot:** Occupies a Medium Earth Orbit with a semi-major axis of approximately 29,600 km.
- **Dual Manufacturing:** Produced through a collaboration between OHB System AG and Surrey Satellite Technology.
- **Named Entity:** Carries the alias "Tijmen," following the Galileo convention of naming satellites after children from EU member states.

## Body

### Technical Specifications
GSAT0214 belongs to the **Galileo Full Operational Capability [class]**. It utilizes the **SmartMEO** spacecraft bus and is powered by two **spacecraft solar arrays**. The satellite has a launch mass of **733 kilograms** and is designed to operate for a **service life of 12 years**.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite was launched on **November 17, 2016**, at 13:06:55 UTC. The launch vehicle was an **Ariane 5ES**, specifically identified as flight **VA233**. The launch originated from **ELA-3**, a European launch site. The deployment involved a space tug identified as **EPS-V L10**.

### Orbital Parameters
GSAT0214 functions as a **satellite of medium Earth orbit**. According to orbital and technical parameters cited by the European GNSS Service Centre:
- **Semi-major axis:** 29,599.8 kilometres
- **Orbital inclination:** 56.0 degrees
- **Orbital eccentricity:** 0.0 (circular orbit)

### Administration and Identification
The satellite is operated by the **European Union Agency for the Space Programme**. It is tracked under several international identifiers:
- **COSPAR ID:** 2016-069D
- **NSSDCA ID:** 2016-069D
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 41862

## References

1. [Source](https://www.gsc-europa.eu/system-status/orbital-and-technical-parameters)
2. [Source](https://www.gsc-europa.eu/news/countdown-a-month-to-go-to-galileos-next-launch)
3. [Source](http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2016-069D)
4. Jonathan's Space Report
5. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/galileo-foc.htm)
6. [Source](http://www.arianespace.com/mission/ariane-flight-va233/)