Celeste (LEO-PNT)
Satellite constellation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Celeste (/tʃeˈlɛste/)[1] is a Low Earth orbit Positioning Navigation Timing (LEO-PNT)[2] satellite constellation by the European Space Agency (ESA) intended to demonstrate the usefulness of LEO satellites for complementing and enhancing the services of higher orbit systems like Galileo or EGNOS.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] The first two satellites were launched in March 2026.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Celeste was named after Maria Celeste, a 17th-century Poor Clares nun and a daughter of Galileo Galilei.[4]
European Space Agency | |
| Operator | European Space Agency |
|---|---|
| Constellation size | |
| Nominal satellites | 10 (plus 2 spares) |
| Current usable satellites | 2 |
| First launch | 28 March 2026, 9:14 UTC |
| Last launch | NET 2027 |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Orbital height | 510 km (320 mi) |
| Website | LEO-PNT at ESA.int |
Timeline
First two satellites (IOD1-2, Pathfinder A type), in the form of large CubeSats,[5] one 12U and one 16U,[22][23] were launched on 28 March 2026[15][24][22][16][25][21] on a Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle's flight "Daughter Of The Stars"[26] from Launch Complex 1 on Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand[20] to a quasi-polar orbit.[7] This was Rocket Lab's first launch for ESA.[1]
In early April 2026, the two spacecraft completed their LEOP and on 8 April 2026, ESTEC received the first navigation signal from the Celeste mission.[27] On 16 April 2026, IOD-2 sent its first dual-frequency navigation signals in the L- and S-band.[28]
Later, eight of the larger and more complex Pathfinder B satellites will be launched to similar orbits. The entire constellation of 10 satellites is planned to be completed in 2027.[5][7][29]
Satellites
| Satellite | COSPAR ID | Satellite bus | Manufacturer | Launch date | Launch vehicle | Launch site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IOD-1[30][31] | 2026-065A[32] | 12U CubeSat | GMV, OHB | Rocket Lab Electron | Mahia, LC-1A | |
| IOD-2[30][38] | 2026-065B[39] | 16U CubeSat | Thales Alenia Space |
