# GSAT0220

> navigation satellite in the Galileo constellation

**Wikidata**: [Q130483118](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130483118)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gsat0220

## Summary
GSAT0220 is a Galileo Full Operational Capability navigation satellite in medium Earth orbit. It was launched on 25 July 2018 aboard Ariane flight VA244 and is operated by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme.

## Key Facts
- GSAT0220 is an instance of the Galileo Full Operational Capability model of navigation satellite.
- Launch date: 2018-07-25 at 11:25:08 UTC; launch site: ELA-3; launch vehicle: Ariane 5ES (flight VA244).
- Operator: European Union Agency for the Space Programme.
- Mass (launch weight): 733 kilogram.
- Planned service life (design life): 12 years.
- Orbit class: medium Earth orbit (MEO); semi-major axis: 29,599.8 km; orbital inclination: 56.0°; orbital eccentricity: 0.0.
- Spacecraft bus: SmartMEO; manufacturer: OHB System AG (bus) with payload supplied by Surrey Satellite Technology.
- Space tug used: EPS-V L10 (identifier 596).
- Power: two spacecraft solar arrays.
- Identifiers and codes: COSPAR ID / NSSDC ID 2018-060D; SCN 43567; Wolfram Language entity code Entity["Satellite","43567"].
- Common aliases: Samuel, Galileo-FOC FM20, Galileo 24, GalileoSat-24, Galileo FM20.

## FAQs
### Q: What is GSAT0220?
A: GSAT0220 is a Galileo Full Operational Capability navigation satellite placed in medium Earth orbit as part of the Galileo constellation.

### Q: When and how was GSAT0220 launched?
A: GSAT0220 was launched on 25 July 2018 at 11:25:08 UTC from ELA-3 aboard an Ariane 5ES (Ariane flight VA244). The mission included the EPS-V L10 space tug.

### Q: Who operates and manufactured GSAT0220?
A: The satellite is operated by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme. The spacecraft bus and primary manufacture are attributed to OHB System AG, with the payload provided by Surrey Satellite Technology.

### Q: What orbit does GSAT0220 occupy and what is its expected lifetime?
A: GSAT0220 operates in medium Earth orbit with a semi-major axis of 29,599.8 km, an inclination of 56.0°, and an eccentricity of 0.0. Its design service life is 12 years.

### Q: What are common alternate names for GSAT0220?
A: Common aliases include Samuel, Galileo-FOC FM20, Galileo 24, GalileoSat-24, and Galileo FM20.

## Why It Matters
GSAT0220 is one element of the Galileo Full Operational Capability satellite series, contributing to the operational size and redundancy of the Galileo constellation. As a FOC-class satellite built on the SmartMEO bus and carrying payload hardware from Surrey Satellite Technology, it represents the standardized production and deployment approach used for this generation of Galileo satellites. Its placement in medium Earth orbit with a 56° inclination and a near-circular orbit geometry is consistent with constellation requirements for global coverage patterns. The satellite’s 12-year design life and twin solar-array power system support long-term sustained operations, while launch on Ariane flight VA244 with an EPS-V L10 tug reflects the integrated European launch and deployment architecture used for multiple Galileo satellites. For planners, operators, and analysts, GSAT0220 is a verifiable unit in the Galileo FOC rollout—identifiable by COSPAR ID 2018-060D and catalog SCN 43567—and therefore forms part of assessments of constellation health, capacity, and lifecycle management.

## Notable For
- Being a Galileo Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellite launched as part of Ariane flight VA244 on 25 July 2018.
- Launch mass of 733 kg (launch weight) while using the SmartMEO spacecraft bus.
- Dual-manufacturer production: OHB System AG (bus/manufacturer) with payload provided by Surrey Satellite Technology.
- Design life of 12 years and powered by two spacecraft solar arrays.
- Identifiers COSPAR/NSSDC 2018-060D and SCN 43567; also known under several aliases including "Samuel" and "Galileo-FOC FM20".

## Body

### Overview
- Name: GSAT0220.
- Instance: Galileo Full Operational Capability satellite.
- Role: Navigation satellite in the Galileo constellation.
- Aliases: Samuel; Galileo-FOC FM20; Galileo 24; GalileoSat-24; Galileo FM20.

### Launch and mission
- Launch date and time: 2018-07-25 at 11:25:08 UTC.
- Launch site: ELA-3.
- Launch vehicle: Ariane 5ES (Ariane flight VA244).
- Significant event recorded: rocket launch from ELA-3 as part of Ariane flight VA244 on 2018-07-25.
- Space tug used during deployment: EPS-V L10 (identifier 596).

### Design and manufacture
- Spacecraft bus: SmartMEO.
- Manufacturer: OHB System AG (primary); Surrey Satellite Technology (payload supplier; qualifier indicates applies to payload).
- Power: two spacecraft solar arrays.

### Orbit and orbital parameters
- Orbit class: medium Earth orbit (MEO).
- Semi-major axis: 29,599.8 km.
- Orbital inclination: 56.0 degrees.
- Orbital eccentricity: 0.0.

### Service life and mass
- Launch mass (launch weight): 733 kg.
- Design service life: 12 years.

### Operators and affiliations
- Operator: European Union Agency for the Space Programme.
- Part of: Galileo constellation (Galileo Full Operational Capability program).

### Identifiers and catalog entries
- COSPAR ID: 2018-060D.
- NSSDC ID: 2018-060D.
- SCN: 43567.
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite","43567"].

### Technical notes
- The spacecraft uses the SmartMEO bus architecture.
- Two spacecraft solar arrays provide primary electrical power.
- The EPS-V L10 was the space tug associated with launch/deployment operations.

(End of entry)

## 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](https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/169)
4. Jonathan's Space Report
5. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/galileo-foc.htm)