EC: new satellites and launchers ensure Galileo start in 2014
Baku, February 3 (AZERTAC). With the signature of further contracts for satellites and launchers in London, Galileo is firmly on track for the provision of improved satellite navigation services to citizens in 2014. Thanks to the highly competitive proposal of the contractor and increasing the number of satellites which will be launched in orbit by 2014, the Commission has been able to accelerate the process.
Antonio Tajani, European Commission Vice-President, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship said: "For Galileo, today`s signing signifies the concrete roll-out of the programme is on time and within budget. I am proud that we could manage to speed up the delivery of satellites and launchers. This means that Europeans will be able to exploit the opportunities of enhanced satellite navigation provided by Galileo in 2014. I am also proud to see that Europe has a highly competitive space industry capable of realising such an ambitious high tech programme.”
Galileo will allow users to know their exact position in time and space, just like GPS, but with greater precision and reliability. The 8 satellites will join the 18 satellites already contracted, of which 2 are in orbit since October 21st 2011, bringing to 26 the number of satellites by end 2015. A second launch of a further 2 Galileo satellites will take place later this year.
The Galileo programme has been structured in two phases: the in-orbit validation (IOV) phase consists of tests and the operation of four satellites and their related ground infrastructure. This phase is ongoing. The full operational capability (FOC) phase consists of the deployment of the remaining ground and space infrastructure. It includes an initial operational capability phase of 18 operational satellites. The full system will consist of 30 satellites in orbit, as well as 2 satellites on the ground to replace ones in orbit if necessary, and include control centres located in Europe and a network of sensor stations and uplink stations installed around the globe.
Contracts were signed by the European Space Agency on behalf of the European Commission.
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