EU pushes ahead on Galileo
Posted: Sat, Dec 11, 2004, 9:05 AM ET (1405 GMT)
The European Union decided Friday to press ahead with the deployment of the Galileo satellite navigation system. Transport ministers from EU member states, meeting Friday in Brussels, agreed to move ahead to the deployment phase of Galileo, when the system's satellites are built and launched, and ground stations developed. The EU estimates that the deployment phase will cost €2.1 billion (US$2.75 billion), with one-third of the cost to be paid by the public sector. The remaining funding will be provided by one of two private-sector consortia competing for the Galileo concession contract; the EU is expected to select one group by the end of February. According to the current schedule an initial test satellite will be launched in 2005, with the full satellite constellation to be deployed by 2008. Galileo has recently been criticized by some members of the British Parliament, who are concerned the costs of the program will increase and also question the overall utility of the system.
The European Union decided Friday to press ahead with the deployment of the Galileo satellite navigation system. Transport ministers from EU member states, meeting Friday in Brussels, agreed to move ahead to the deployment phase of Galileo, when the system's satellites are built and launched, and ground stations developed. The EU estimates that the deployment phase will cost €2.1 billion (US$2.75 billion), with one-third of the cost to be paid by the public sector. The remaining funding will be provided by one of two private-sector consortia competing for the Galileo concession contract; the EU is expected to select one group by the end of February. According to the current schedule an initial test satellite will be launched in 2005, with the full satellite constellation to be deployed by 2008. Galileo has recently been criticized by some members of the British Parliament, who are concerned the costs of the program will increase and also question the overall utility of the system.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Thales and Airbus to build next-generation radar imaging satellites
Posted: Sat, Jun 13 10:02 AM ET (1402 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, June 15
China's Lijian-1 rocket sends 8 satellites into orbit
CGTN — 5:39 am ET (0939 GMT) Lithuania to host European Space Education Resource Office
LRT — 5:39 am ET (0939 GMT) Russia’s satellite moves push Europe to rethink space defense
TVP World — 5:38 am ET (0938 GMT) SpaceX to launch rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base Monday morning
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 5:36 am ET (0936 GMT) Emboldened by SpaceX, Investors Are Piling Into All Things Space
Wall Street Journal — 5:33 am ET (0933 GMT) |
