The Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element (GIOVE)-B navigation spacecraft will not be launched until the end of 2007, following the failure of its on-board computer during testing.
GIOVE-B is the second of two test spacecraft developed for the joint European Union and European Space Agency satellite navigation system Galileo. It was originally to be launched in April, but after the successful deployment of GIOVE-A in January, that was delayed until later this year.
However, the failure of GIOVE-B's on-board computer during vacuum chamber testing at Alcatel Alenia Space Italy in September cast doubt on its launch date.
ESA is to use the extra time to upgrade certain aspects of GIOVE-B, but details of the upgrades and their additional costs were not available. "The launch has now been delayed until the end of next year because of the failure of the on-board computer. It had a software problem," says a source within the Galileo programme.
GIOVE-B is being developed by Galileo Industries, a European consortium including Alcatel Alenia Space, Spain's Galileo Sistemas y Servicios and EADS Astrium.
Source: Flight International