Posted: Mon, Sep 30, 2002, 7:50 AM ET (1150 GMT)
A dispute between two European nations continues to delay the start of the Galileo satellite navigation program, Reuters reported last week. Half of the Galileo funding will come from the European Space Agency, but Germany and Italy disagree regarding who should get the most contracts from the program. Germany believes it should get the most because it is the largest financial contributor to ESA, while Italy believes its status as an early backer of Galileo should allow it to lead the program. The dispute is holding up the project, even though the European Union, the other organization funding Galileo, is ready to begin. The EU and ESA are providing a combined 1.1 billion euros (US$1.08 billion) for Galileo's developmental phase.

Related Links:

•  Reuters article