EU successfully launched missiles carrying two Galileo positioning satellites

On August 22, the European Union (EU) successfully launched a Soyuz missile from the French Guiana Space Center, carrying two satellites of the Galileo navigation system.

These two satellites will be competitors to the US GPS system.

With a contract worth 500 million euros signed with Arianespace, Europe's Galileo satellite navigation program is a big step towards providing operational services.

The Soyuz rocket left the launch pad.(Source: nasaspaceflight.com)

The contract will allow the EU to develop a technology to launch launchers and launch missiles to bring satellites into orbit, thereby limiting the need to associate with external partners to ensure the right to research space and provide services independently.

The EU aims to produce three Ariane-5 launchers and put about 30 satellites in space.

Launchers will be put into use for the first time in 2015 to put on orbit four satellites at the same time, double the current launch capacity.

Meanwhile, satellites will officially go into operation synchronously from 2020.

Mr. Ferdinando Nelli Feroci, European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurs affirmed this is an important step towards the independence of the EU space industry.

When fully operational, this program will provide signals that allow service users to know their exact location in the space next to many other utility services.