The European Union is going to be a part of the yet-to-launch Galileo satellites will send up into space via custom Ariane 5 rockets. This can, in contrast to the also used Soyuz rockets, four instead of two satellites take.
The European Commission has recently completed three contracts for the Galileo project. At OHB System AG has placed an order for eight satellites, with a total value of approximately 250 million euros. At the French Arianespace, the EU has an option taken within three satellietlanceringen with an Ariane 5 rocket. To those of launches, as well as leverage the company Astrium SAS enabled for the current launcher of the Ariane 5 to make it suitable for four Galileo satellites. The Russian Soyuz rocket, which is also used for satellites to launch, can have a maximum of two pieces to take with you.
According to Antonio Tajanie, vicevoorziter of the European Commission, to lead the new deals and improved lanceercapaciteit undertake the project on time may be running out. This implies Tajanie that the project is not on schedule lag, something that the last few months, much was speculated. In 2014, there must be enough satellites in orbit for the Galileo system available for large scale use. In 2007, estimated the EU that Galileo become operational in 2013.
With the new deal, the number of satellites for which a contract is ready for collection at twenty-six. The first of these satellites were in October last year launched.