At ESA’s ESEC-Galaxia, the European Space Security and Education Centre in Belgium, 30 students from across Europe and Canada spent five days immersed in the world of satellite navigation, positioning and timing. From 22 to 26 June 2026, the Navigation Training Course, organised by ESA Academy and ESA Navigation, provided participants with a comprehensive introduction to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), including Europe’s very own Galileo.

Guided by 20 ESA experts, the students explored how ESA designed and built Galileo for the European Commission, how it works, and why it is fundamental to the European Union’s autonomy and our everyday lives.

The programme also looked beyond today’s capabilities, introducing participants to Galileo Second Generation, Celeste for low-Earth-orbit positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), and Moonlight for navigation on the Moon.

Theory was complemented by extensive hands-on activities, allowing students to put their knowledge into practice. These sessions brought complex concepts to life and demonstrated how PNT technologies are applied in real-world scenarios.

By the end of the course, participants left with a solid understanding of satellite navigation and inspired to help shape the next generation of PNT technologies on Earth and beyond.

Are you interested in ESA Navigation education opportunities? Explore open opportunities with ESA Navigation.