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GSAT0209 (GALILEO 12)

European Navigation Satellite (Galileo) · ESA / European Commission

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GSAT0209 (Galileo 12), launched December 2015, continues the expansion of Europe's independent navigation constellation. By this point, Galileo had grown large enough to begin providing meaningful 'Initial Services' to civilian users — an early, non-final version of the positioning, timing, and search-and-rescue capability the full constellation would eventually deliver. Galileo's 'Initial Services' declaration in December 2016, just as this satellite reached orbit, marked the first time ordinary consumers anywhere could officially use European satellites for real positioning, even though the constellation was still years from full 30-satellite strength.

Its orbit

Orbit
Medium Earth Orbita high vantage point, ideal for navigation
Altitude
14,427–14,441 mi (23,219–23,240 km)
Inclination
55.9°
One orbit
14.1 hours1.7 orbits a day
NORAD ID
41174
Int’l designator
2015-079A
Launched
2015

Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 21 Sep 2026.

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