CELESTE (LEO-PNT) IN-ORBIT PREPARATORY (IOP) PHASE DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIALISATION, PHASES BCDEF - STAGE 1

Celeste is the Component 1 LEO-PNT of the FutureNAV programme (herewith "Celeste"). Celeste represents the European initiative towards establishing a Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing (LEO-PNT) capability. This component aims to complement existing GNSS services by leveraging a constellation of LEO satellites to deliver enhanced resilience, improved accuracy, and innovative features for emerging applications.Celeste includes two development steps:Celeste In-Orbit Demonstrator (IOD) phase, approved andsubscribed in CM22, with two on-going industrial contracts, each of them implementing an end-to-end system (including launch services, operations and service demonstration), showcasing the feasibility and benefits of using low-Earth orbits, novel signals and frequency bands,Celeste In-Orbit Preparatory (IOP) phase, was subscribed in the Ministerial Council of November 2025 and it is the subject of this activity.The ultimate objective of Celeste IOP is to prepare a future LEO-PNT operational system for the European Union, adding a new layer to the European PNT ecosystem with Galileo at its core, in order to deliver qualified products ready for procurement as part of the EU LEO-PNT operational system under future EU programme in order to achieve initial operational capability by2030+. In parallel, the programme aims to unlock global commercial opportunities, driving innovation and reinforcing European leadership in emerging PNT markets.To achieve this, Celeste IOP will accelerate the development and qualification of pre-operational assets and their industrialisation, including mature and qualified technologies, and the creation of the Celeste in-orbit validation end-to-end system. Turn-key optimised satellite products for cost- and schedule-effective production are to be developed in parallel to the establishment of an in-orbit testbed for system validation.Industry will need to adopt innovative, agile processes that streamline design, integration, and qualification activities, enabling rapid iteration and early in-orbit validation. By leveraging flexible development cycles, digital engineering, and advanced manufacturing, Celeste IOP will ensure timely delivery of pre-operational assets, reduce programme risk, and maintain competitiveness in a fast-evolving global PNT landscape.