GIOVE-A

GIOVE-A (Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element), also known as GSTB-V2/A, is the first of two European Space Agency (ESA) experimental satellites designed to test the highly complex technologies that will be used by the Galileo positioning network. It was built under the prime contractorship of EADS Astrium, with support from Thales Alenia Space. GIOVE-B has a mass of 500kg and houses two rubidium atomic clocks, which have a stability of 10ns/d. A third clock called PHM is also on board, with a stability of less than 1ns/d. A transmitter in L band will allow to test the localization signal.