Credit: S. CORVAJA/ESA

Galileo, Europe's planned satellite navigation system, is closer to reality following the launch of the long-delayed second verification satellite, Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element (GIOVE-B). The satellite was lofted into space from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on 26 April, carrying an ultra-accurate atomic clock identical to those that will be used on the 30 planned operational Galileo satellites, set to be fully deployed by the end of 2013.

During the mission, GIOVE-B will discover what the environment is like at the altitude chosen for Galileo, and will send back signals like those intended to be used by the operational Galileo system.

The launch came days after the European Parliament voted to provide the €3.4 billion (US$5.3 billion) needed to fund Galileo after a number of commercial partners pulled out of the project last year.