The first atellite of the EUâs Galileo programme for global satellite navigation was launched on Friday (21 October) from Europeâs spaceport in Kourou, French Guyana.
The historical launch comes after years of internal battles over the financing of the multi-billion euro project, which is set to become the most prominent competitor of the US's GPS (see 'Background').
The European Commission estimates that the 30 satellites which will eventually constitute the Galileo constellation will all be launched by 2020. As from the end of 2012, a pair of satellites is set to be sent in orbit every quarter âwith the aim of having 24 satellites in the space by the end of 2014 or the beginning of 2015,â said EU Space policy spokesperson Carlo Corazza.
