Galileo is Europe's global navigation satellite system, providing a global positioning service that serves as an alternative to the US GPS and Russian Glonass systems.

On September 17th, a Falcon 9 rocket launched carrying two satellites in a mission designated Galileo L13. These satellites join the Galileo constellation, which prior to this launch consisted of 32 satellites, of which only 25 were operational. Orbiting at an altitude of 23,222 kilometers, the new satellites enhance the system's positioning accuracy and expand its coverage area.

This launch marks the second time Galileo satellites have been sent into orbit from US soil, following the L12 mission in April 2024.

The Galileo system, managed by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) in collaboration with Airbus as the manufacturer, is designed to provide precise positioning, navigation, and timing services.

It is worth noting that there are four global navigation satellite systems owned by the United States (GPS), Russia (GLONASS), Europe (Galileo), and China (BDS). Additionally, both India and Japan possess regional navigation systems with limited geographic coverage.