Genesis and LEO-PNT: ESA launches two new navigation missions

“With Genesis and LEO-PNT, we are meeting the rapidly growing need for more stable and accurate navigation, and we are securing Europe’s position as the world leader in satellite navigation, the largest downstream space market. I am delighted to see our industry competition achieving these two missions,” said Javier Benedicto, Director of Navigation at ESA.

The Genesis contract amounts to 76.6 million euros. A consortium of 14 organizations led by OHB Italia SpA (IT) is responsible for developing, manufacturing, qualifying, standardizing, launching and operating the Genesis satellite and all its payloads. This mission is supported by Italy, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Hungary and the United Kingdom. The launch of the Genesis satellite is scheduled for 2028, and will be followed by years of scientific exploitation.

Regarding LEO-PNT, two parallel contracts of 78.4 million euros each were signed for two demonstrators in low Earth orbit (LEO-PNT). The contracts cover the design and manufacture of satellites and payloads, ground segment, test user segment as well as satellite launch, operation, testing and demonstration of services and end users.

One of the LEO-PNT contracts is led by GMV Aerospace and Defense SAU (ES) as the main system contractor and OHB System AG (DE) as the main aerospace component contractor and general partner. The other contract is carried by Thales Alenia Space France SAS (FR) as general system general contractor and Thales Alenia Space SPA (IT) as aerospace component general contractor. These two alliances bring together more than 50 institutions from 14 countries, including industrial players with extensive space experience, as well as new players with innovative approaches – a mix of large space players, midcaps ) and SMEs, where representatives of end user communities. they are also involved.

The first LEO-PNT satellite is expected to be launched within 20 months of launch and the full constellation of demonstrators is expected to be in orbit before 2027.

The missions were approved at the 2022 ESA Cabinet as part of the FutureNAV program of the ESA Navigation Directorate. FutureNAV enables ESA to respond to trends and needs in positioning, navigation and timing, and allows Europe to remain at the forefront of satellite navigation technology.

First, a flying probe measuring Earth to the nearest millimeter

Genesis will help improve the International Earth Reference Frame (ITRF) with an accuracy of 1 mm and a long-term stability of 0.1 mm/year, providing a coordinate system for many of the most demanding navigation applications on our planet.

The ITRF serves as a reference for all space and ground observations for navigation and Earth science. The updated International Earth Reference System (ITRF) will have immediate implications for satellite systems, including Galileo-based applications in areas such as aviation, traffic management, autonomous vehicles, space and navigation.

Additionally, a strengthened ITRF will benefit many other areas: climate, natural hazard forecasting, climate change impact monitoring, land management and surveying, gravitational and non-gravitational research – to name just a few .

The extreme accuracy of Genesis will be achieved by assigning the main geodetic (Earth measurement) methods: navigation satellite telemetry, very long-term base interferometry, satellite laser range and even the DORIS receiver (orbit determination and radiation placement integrated for satellite) in the well. -a calibrated satellite that will act as a flying probe, which will make it possible to determine the biases present in each technique and to correct them more precisely. The instruments will be synchronized with a stable oscillator (USO).

LEO-PNT, a robust platform navigation system

LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing) is a small constellation of demonstration satellites that will fly close to Earth and test the use of new signals and frequency bands, opening up more endurance, accuracy and exceptional speed in the field of navigation. which will open the door to a long list of new programs and new services.

This constellation will demonstrate the benefits of working with Galileo and other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). LEO-PNT will provide signals to improve the robustness of existing GNSS in Earth’s central orbit, such as turbulence and interference from natural phenomena, and provide services in areas that current satellite navigation systems cannot reach, the heart of urban areas and even inside buildings. The mission will also demonstrate the capabilities of the navigation constellation in low Earth orbit to provide space-based tracking capabilities for Galileo and EGNOS signals.

Another objective of this mission is to demonstrate the integration of PNT (positioning, routing and synchronization) with open communication standards, including 5G/6G, to pave the way for new applications of the Internet of Things, emergency services and real-time data. the minimum waiting time for a position. and interactions.

Low Earth orbit navigation applications range from transportation (including automobiles, autonomous vehicles, rail and maritime transportation, and digital mobility in general) to critical infrastructure, mobile devices, asset tracking, and indoor surveillance.