About Celeste (LEO-PNT)

ESA’s LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning Navigation and Timing) mission Celeste is in its in-orbit demonstrator phase and features a constellation of 10 satellites plus two spares that will fly in low Earth orbit to test innovative signals across various frequency bands. Its goal is to advance satellite navigation concepts for resilient positioning and timing services.

The mission was approved at ESA’s Council at Ministerial Level of 2022 and is supported by Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Two parallel contracts to develop the fleet were awarded in 2024 to two consortia involving over 50 entities from 14 countries.

The in-orbit demonstrator includes end-to-end definition, development of space and test user segment, launch, ground segment and operations, experimentation, demonstration of services and satellite disposal. For more information, visit www.esa.int/LEO-PNT