The industrial partners in the European Galileo navigation satellite programme have established a joint venture consortium with headquarters in Brussels. DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, Dornier Satellitinen-systeme, Alenia Aerospazio and Matra Marconi Space are working on the definition phase of the Galileo system funded by the European Community and the European Space Agency.
The space agency will be responsible for defining the space segment and related ground segment requirements under a programme called GalileoSat.
The system will comprise at least 24 satellites in medium earth orbit and some in geostationary orbit, with a fully operational network planned to be established by 2008. There are, however, growing doubts as to whether the date can be met.
Source: Flight International
