The European GPS
January 7, 2010
The European Commission announced on Thursday that the long-delayed Galileo project, the European alternative to the American GPS satellite navigation system, will begin operation in 2014.
The Commission has awarded the German company OHB System AG a 566 million euro (813 million dollar) contract to build the first 14 satellites for the EU's new space-based navigation system.
The first satellite should be delivered in June 2012, with an additional one to be completed every six weeks until March 2014.
Superior to GPS
Galileo's supporters claim it will be technologically superior to the US Global Positioning System because it will be able to provide more accurate locations for cars, ships and people using navigation devices.
Ultimately, the Galileo system will have 32 satellites. OHB is currently bidding against German rival EADS-Astrium for the right to provide the remaining units.
Additional contracts awarded
Smaller contracts were also awarded on Thursday to Italian and French companies. The EU's transport commissioner, Antonio Tajani, said that Italy's Thales Alenia Space had won an 85 million euro contract to supply system support to the project and that Arianespace of France would receive 397 million euros to help launch the satellites into space.
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Editor: Susan Houlton