[Satellite TODAY 10-24-11] Arianespace has successfully launched its first Soyuz rocket from the European Spaceport and Guiana Space Center (CSG) in Kourou, the company confirmed Oct. 21.

   The debut launch carried the first two Galileo IOV-1 satellites in the Galileo constellation, which aims to provide Europe with its own independent satellite positioning and navigation system. The satellites, built for the European Space Agency (ESA) by an Astrium-led consortium, were injected into an intermediate circular orbit at an inclination of 54.7 degrees. The duration of the mission from liftoff to satellite separation was approximately 3 hours, 49 minutes and 27 seconds …