Celeste () is a Low Earth orbit Positioning Navigation Timing (LEO-PNT) satellite constellation by the European Space Agency (ESA) intended to demonstrate the usefulness of LEO satellites for complementing and enhancing the services of higher orbit systems like Galileo or EGNOS. The first two satellites were launched in March 2026. Celeste was named after Maria Celeste, a 17th-century Poor Clares nun and a daughter of Galileo Galilei.
Timeline First two satellites (IOD1-2, Pathfinder A type), in the form of large CubeSats, one 12U and one 16U, were launched on 28 March 2026 on a Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle's flight "Daughter Of The Stars" from Launch Complex 1 on Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand to a quasi-polar orbit. This was Rocket Lab's first launch for ESA.
In early April 2026, the two spacecraft completed their LEOP and on 8 April 2026, ESTEC received the first navigation signal from the Celeste mission. On 16 April 2026, IOD-2 sent its first dual-frequency navigation signals in the L- and S-band.Good morning Celeste, we hear you loud and clear! On 27 August 2026, ESA successfully demonstrated the transmission and reception of 3GPP-compliant 5G positioning signals from the IOD-2 satellite.
Later, eight of the larger and more complex Pathfinder B satellites will be launched to similar orbits. The entire constellation of 10 satellites is planned to be completed in 2027. Satellites +Celeste satellitesSatelliteCOSPAR IDSatellite busManufacturerLaunch dateLaunch vehicleLaunch siteIOD-12026-065A12U CubeSatGMV, OHB 1st attempt: 25 March 2026 (postponed due to weather)Update: Celeste LEO‑PNT inaugural launch postponed due to adverse weather; new date to follow.
2nd attempt: 28 March 2026, 9:14 UTC (success)Rocket Lab ElectronMahia, LC-1AIOD-22026-065B16U CubeSatThales Alenia Space
See also
List of European Space Agency programmes and missions
References