Giove B (GSTBv2B)

Launch data: Designation  32781 / 08020A Launch date  26 Apr 2008 - 22:16 UT Launch site  Baikonur, LC-31/6 Launch vehicle  Soyuz-FG /Fregat Mission  Commercial: Galileo navigation test satellite MEO Earth orbit on 27 Apr - 02:01: Perigee / Apogee  23118 x 23246 km Eccentricity  2,35E-03 Inclination  55.98 deg Period  842.66 min

Mission details:

• The second European Galileo navigation system test satellite left the launch pad on Apr 26 at 2216 UTC on a Soyuz-FG/Fregat.
• The spacecraft was built for ESA and European Satellite Navigation Industries by Astrium using a Thales Proteus spacecraft bus; the satellite was integrated by Thales in its Rome factory.
• The Soyuz-FG placed Giove/Fregat in a suborbital path; the first Fregat burn placed the stack in a 170 km parking orbit. At 0201 UTC on Apr 27 Giove B reached a 23118 x 23246 km orbit inclined 56 deg.