Posted: Sat, Feb 4, 2012, 7:21 AM ET (1221 GMT)
Two smaller European satellite manufacturers have won a contract to build the next batch of Galileo navigation satellites, beating out once again a European aerospace giant. A team led by Germany's OHB-System and the UK's Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) won the contract awarded by ESA on Thursday to build the next set of eight Galileo satellites. The same team won the contract to build the first 14 operational satellites in 2010. In both cases OHB/SSTL bid beat out one from EADS Astrium. ESA also awarded a contract to EADS to modify the Ariane 5 rocket, allowing it to launch four Galileo satellites at a time, for launches planned in 2014 and 2015.

Related Links:

•  Space News article
•  Reuters article
•  BBC article
•  AFP article
•  ESA press release