In early July the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) announced the upcoming upgrades of the Galileo GCS infrastructure in preparation for the next launch.
Today the new GCS V3.0 infrastructure has been completely deployed in the Galileo Ground Control Centres in Oberpfaffenhofen (Germany) and Fucino (Italy) and is being used to operate the Galileo Satellite Constellation since early August.
This is the result of years of hard work, since GMV was awarded the maintenance and upgrading of the Galileo GCS, until achieving the most ambitious upgrading of any part of the Galileo Ground Segment.
During this period GMV, leading a large consortium of the top European Space companies, has been able to steer the whole technical challenge through the stormy waters of the COVID-19 pandemic that has marked nearly half of this period, to pull off an unprecedented success.
The new GCS release includes upgradings to increase system capabilities, enhance virtualization and obsolescence resolution as well as operational improvements. It represents a major step forward towards the Galileo FOC (Full Operational Capability), boosting the management capacity to 38 satellites.
The new GCS not only offers state-of-the art-infrastructure and technology, but it also features improved reliability and security, including the most advanced techniques. Nor does it stop there: the New Key Service is capable of supporting LEOP campaigns for the new coming Galileo Satellite Launches. Since 2011 all the Galileo LEOP campaigns have relied on external control centers (either ESOC or CNES) in coordination with the GCS, but, from now on, thanks to this new Galileo GCS V3.0, the LEOPs will be run directly from Galileo Ground Control Segment.
Special mention here must go to the hard work, guidance and support provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) as Galileo System Design Authority and Technical Manager
GMV is a privately owned technology business group founded in 1984 and trading on a worldwide scale in the following sectors: Aerospace, Defense and Security, Cybersecurity, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Automotive, Healthcare, Telecommunications and IT for government authorities and major corporations. In 2020, it had revenues of nearly 260 million euros. Working with a staff of over 2,300, the company now runs subsidiaries in Spain, USA, Germany, France, Poland, Portugal, Romania, UK, The Netherlands, Belgium, Malaysia, and Colombia. Seventy five percent of its turnover comes from international projects on all five continents. The company’s growth strategy is based on continuous innovation, and it plows back 10% of its turnover into inhouse R&D. GMV has reached CMMI level 5, the world’s most prestigious model in terms of enhancing an organization’s process capability, and it has numerous international patents. Currently, GMV is the world’s number-one independent supplier of ground control systems for commercial telecommunications satellite operators and the European leader in the ground segment of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (EGNOS and Galileo). It is also the primary provider of C41 command and control systems for the Spanish Army and the leading national provider of telematic systems for public transport. For over 15 years now it has also been a tried-and-trusted provider of telematics software, services, and systems in the automotive sector. In the ICT sector it has become a national benchmark as a provider of advanced cybersecurity solutions and services for IP networks, ICT applications and mobility applications for governments and the development of e-Administration.
