Soyuz rocket launches GIOVE-B satellite
{{date|April 27, 2008}}
{{missing image|Image:Amos2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An earlier Soyuz-FG launch {{Image source|{{w|Spacecom}}}}}}
At 22:16 GMT yesterday (04:16 today local time), a [[Russia]]n {{w|Soyuz-FG}}/{{w|Fregat}} carrier rocket was launched from {{w|Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31/6|Site 31/6}} the {{w|Baikonur Cosmodrome}} in [[Kazakhstan]], carrying the [[Europe]]an {{w|GIOVE-B}} experimental {{w|Navigation satellite}}. The launch was conducted by {{w|Starsem}}, a Russo-European organisation which commercially markets Soyuz-FG and {{w|Soyuz 2 rockets|Soyuz-2}} launches. GIOVE-B was successfully deployed into a {{w|medium Earth orbit}} at 02:01 GMT this morning, after an ascent lasting nearly four hours. 

GIOVE-B will serve as a prototype for the {{w|Galileo positioning system}}. It is the second such prototype, GIOVE-A is already in orbit, having been launched in December 2005. GIOVE-B was originally scheduled to launch in April 2006, but was delayed for a number of reasons. The next Galileo launch is scheduled to be the first cluster of operational satellites, which will be launched in 2010. The next Soyuz launch will be a {{w|Soyuz-U}} in mid-may, with a {{w|Progress spacecraft}} to resupply the [[International Space Station]].

This was the 20<sup>th</sup> orbital launch of {{w|2008 in spaceflight|2008}}, the 24<sup>th</sup> Soyuz-FG launch, and the 1,732<sup>nd</sup> flight of a Soyuz rocket of any variant. 

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== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080427/106004400.html
|title=Russia launches second satellite for Galileo navigation system
|author=
|pub=RIA Novosti
|date=April 27, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jydCERiyJhe5puK-JKlQ-n6BqEtw
|title=Second test satellite for Galileo launched, reaches orbit
|author=
|pub=AFP
|date=April 27, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=12625491&PageNum=0
|title=Satellite of Eur navigation system orbited
|author=
|pub=ITAR-TASS
|date=April 27, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5411
|title=Soyuz FG launches with Europe's GIOVE-B satellite
|author=Chris Bergin
|pub=NASASpaceflight.com
|date=April 26, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0804/26gioveb/
|title=Test craft for Europe's navigation system blasts off
|author=Stephen Clark
|pub=Spaceflight Now
|date=April 26, 2008}}

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[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Russia]]
[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Soyuz programme]]
[[Category:International Space Station]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Baikonur Cosmodrome]]
[[fr:Lancement de GIOVE-B par une fusée SOYOUZ]]
At 22:16 GMT yesterday (04:16 today local time), a Russian Fregat carrier rocket was launched from Site 31/6 the GIOVE-B experimental Starsem, a Russo-European organisation which commercially markets Soyuz-FG and Soyuz-2 launches. GIOVE-B was successfully deployed into a  at 02:01 GMT this morning, after an ascent lasting nearly four hours. 

GIOVE-B will serve as a prototype for the Soyuz-U in mid-may, with a  to resupply the International Space Station.

This was the 20th orbital launch of 2008, the 24th Soyuz-FG launch, and the 1,732nd flight of a Soyuz rocket of any variant.
Europe Kazakhstan Russia Space Soyuz programme International Space Station Asia Baikonur Cosmodrome