Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has announced that the first two Full Oper-ational Capability (FOC) Galileo spacecraft carrying navigation payloads supplied by the Guildford-based company were successfully launched towards the end of last month from Kourou in French Guiana — on-board the medium-lift Soyuz launch vehicle operated by Ariane Space.

Sir Martin Sweeting, SSTL’s executive chairman, who was in Kourou to witness the event, said: “It’s a privilege to be here to witness the launch of the first pair of FOC Galileo spacecraft for a landmark European space programme that will bring huge benefits to us all.

“This is an exciting occasion for the SSTL team, who are continuing with the manufacture and testing of the remaining 20 FOC payloads.”

SSTL, which is part of the Airbus Group, was selected to supply the navigational payloads for the first 14 FOC Galileo satellites — in partnership with prime contractor OHB System AG — in January 2010.

In 2012, it was awarded the contract for a further eight satellites. The 22 navigational payloads are based on European-sourced atomic clocks, navigation signal generators and high-power amplifiers.

SSTL is also manufacturing the electrical harnesses and electronics to ‘interface’ the payload to the satellite platforms, which are being manufactured by OHB.