ESA's low Earth orbit navigation satellites successfully launched in New Zealand

On the evening of the 28th local time in New Zealand, the first two satellites of the European Space Agency’s “CHELSA” mission were successfully launched from the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. They will be used to explore satellite navigation based on low Earth orbit, thereby supplementing the European Galileo satellite navigation system located in medium Earth orbit. According to a bulletin released by the ESA, the two satellites were launched that day aboard an “Electron” rocket from the launch site in New Zealand, and they will conduct tests in the L-band and S-band. The follow-up launch planned for 2027 will achieve a complete deployment of 11 satellites in orbit for the “CHELSA” mission. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher stated that the “CHELSA” mission will demonstrate how a low Earth orbit satellite navigation constellation can complement the Galileo system currently operating in medium Earth orbit. The bulletin noted that due to being closer to Earth, “CHELSA” mission satellites can provide stronger signals and utilize new signal frequencies. This mission will establish an in-orbit testing platform, with applications including enhanced navigation capabilities for autonomous driving, railways, shipping, and aviation, providing better signals in urban high-rise areas and polar regions, as well as supporting disaster emergency positioning, IoT tracking, and indoor navigation. (Xinhua News Agency)