GIOVE - standing for 'Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element' - is the name that has been chosen for the two satellites which are currently being prepared to take the first step of the In-Orbit Validation phase towards full deployment of Galileo, the European satellite navigation.
The name GIOVE was announced by Ms Karla Peijs, the Dutch Minister of Transport, Public Works & Water Management.
GIOVE A, the first of the two satellites, was presented to the media while undergoing final preparations at the ESA - ESTEC test facilities in Noordwijk the Netherlands.
(All photo's: Jacques van Oene).
ATV test model ESA/ESTEC Noordwijk, The Netherlands April 09, 2002.
ESA's SMART-1 satellite ESA/ESTEC Noordwijk, The Netherlands April 03, 2003.
Mars Express launch event Noordwijk Space Expo, The Netherlands June 02, 2003.
SMART-1 launch event Noordwijk Space Expo, The Netherlands 28 September 2003.
18 October 2003 Soyuz TMA-3 launch event.
Soyuz TMA-1 crew Noordwijk Space Expo, The Netherlands, July 07, 2003.
André Kuipers Noordwijk Space Expo, The Netherlands, November 07, 2003.
Lodewijk van den Berg and Andre Kuipers Public event, Middelburg The Netherlands, 19 November 2005.
Buzz Aldrin TU Delft, Delft The Netherlands, 13 March 2007
ARD ESA/ESTEC Noordwijk, The Netherlands June 28, 2007.
GIOVE-B Satellite ESA/ESTEC Noordwijk, The Netherlands March 05, 2008.
Buran OK-GLI Rotterdam, The Netherlands April 05, 2008.