Posted: Mon, Dec 19, 2005, 7:03 AM ET (1203 GMT)
The launch of the first satellite in Europe's planned Galileo satellite navigation system has been delayed because of problems unrelated to the satellite, ESA reported late Friday. The Galileo In-Orbit Validation Elements A (GIOVE-A) satellite was scheduled to launch on December 26 on a Soyuz booster from Baikonur. However, ESA said in a brief statement that the launch would be delayed at least two days because of an unspecified anomaly in the satellite's ground station network. The satellite, built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. in the UK, is designed to demonstrate key technologies as well as secure key frequencies that will be used by the Galileo system. The latter function puts schedule pressure on the mission: Galileo must put its assigned frequencies into use by next year or risk losing the spectrum assigned to it from the International Telecommunication Union. Galileo is a satellite navigation system designed to compete with the American GPS system.

Related Links:

•  RIA Novosti article
•  ESA statement