# GSAT0225 > navigation satellite in the Galileo constellation **Wikidata**: [Q125621843](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125621843) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gsat0225 ## Summary GSAT0225, also known as Galileo FM25 or by the name Nikolina, is a navigation satellite that operates as part of the European Galileo constellation. It is a Full Operational Capability (FOC) model manufactured by OHB System AG and Surrey Satellite Technology, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in April 2024. The satellite orbits in medium Earth orbit (MEO) and is operated by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme to provide global navigation services. ## Key Facts - **Launch Date:** April 28, 2024, at 00:34 UTC. - **Launch Vehicle:** Falcon 9 Block 5 (using booster B1060.20). - **Launch Site:** Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. - **COSPAR ID:** 2024-079A. - **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 59598. - **Operator:** European Union Agency for the Space Programme. - **Mass:** 733 kilograms (launch weight). - **Orbit:** Medium Earth Orbit with a semi-major axis of 29,599.8 km and an inclination of 56.0 degrees. - **Design Life:** 12 years. - **Aliases:** Galileo FM25, Galileo FOC FM25, Galileo 29, Nikolina, GalileoSat-29, Galileo 10C. ## FAQs ### Q: What is the primary function of GSAT0225? A: GSAT0225 is a navigation satellite designed to provide positioning, navigation, and timing data as part of the Galileo constellation. ### Q: Who manufactured GSAT0225? A: The satellite was manufactured by OHB System AG, which provided the platform, while Surrey Satellite Technology supplied the payload. ### Q: When was GSAT0225 launched and by whom? A: It was launched on April 28, 2024, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center. ### Q: What are the orbital specifications for GSAT0225? A: The satellite occupies a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) with an orbital inclination of 56.0 degrees and a semi-major axis of 29,599.8 kilometers. ## Why It Matters GSAT0225 serves as a critical component of the Galileo program, which is the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) created by the European Union. As a Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellite, it replaces older inert models or expands the constellation's capacity, thereby enhancing the precision and reliability of navigation services for billions of users worldwide. Unlike the earlier IOCV (In-Orbit Validation) satellites, FOC models like GSAT0225 feature improved payloads and a design life of 12 years, ensuring long-term stability for the network. This specific satellite is also notable for its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, a shift that highlights the European Space Agency's adaptability in securing launch providers amidst changes in the availability of European launch vehicles like Ariane 6. By operating in a specifically inclined Medium Earth Orbit, GSAT0225 helps ensure that the Galileo system provides high-latitude coverage comparable to GPS and GLONASS, offering a robust alternative for critical infrastructure and consumer devices globally. ## Notable For - **Constellation Expansion:** Being the 29th satellite in the Galileo system (Galileo 29). - **Launch Provider:** Launching via SpaceX Falcon 9 rather than a traditional European launch vehicle like Soyuz or Ariane. - **Booster Reuse:** Being launched on the Falcon 9 booster B1060, which was flying its 20th mission (B1060.20). - **Naming Convention:** Bearing the nickname "Nikolina." - **Transit History:** Being transported to the Guiana Space Centre in February 2022 prior to its eventual launch from Florida in 2024. ## Body ### Technical Specifications GSAT0225 is classified as a Galileo Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellite. It utilizes the SmartMEO spacecraft bus, specifically designed for navigation missions in medium Earth orbit. The satellite has a launch mass of 733 kilograms and is powered by two spacecraft solar arrays. The satellite's navigational payload was manufactured by Surrey Satellite Technology, while the platform was built by OHB System AG. It is designed to operate for a minimum of 12 years. Its orbital path is nearly circular with an eccentricity of 0.0 and an inclination of 56.0 degrees relative to the equator. ### Launch and Deployment GSAT0225 was launched on April 28, 2024, at 00:34 UTC. The mission lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The launch vehicle was a Falcon 9 Block 5, utilizing the first-stage booster designated B1060. This mission marked the 20th flight for this specific booster. The launch event was a dual deployment, carrying GSAT0225 (Galileo FM25) and its counterpart GSAT0227 (Galileo FM27). The launch was managed by SpaceX under contract for the European Commission. ### Operational History Prior to its launch, records indicate significant transport logistics for the satellite. In February 2022, GSAT0225 was transported to the Guiana Space Centre. However, the satellite was ultimately launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida over two years later. Once in orbit, GSAT0225 became part of the Galileo constellation managed by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme. Its specific technical parameters, such as the COSPAR ID 2024-079A and SCN 59598, are used to track the object in space catalogs. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.gsc-europa.eu/system-status/orbital-and-technical-parameters) 2. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/galileo-foc.htm) 3. Jonathan's Space Report 4. Space-Track 5. [SpaceX launches European Commission’s Galileo satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center. 2024](https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/04/27/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-european-commissions-galileo-satellites-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-the-kennedy-space-center/) 6. [2022](https://twitter.com/GalileoSats/status/1495426677689757696) 7. [Galileo FOC FM25 & FM27. Next Spaceflight](https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/1930)