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The Galileo project to set up an EU alternative to the U.S.
Global Positioning System (GPS) is obliged to use the Russian
Soyuz system until a development of Arianespace's European
Ariane 5 rocket is ready around the end of the year, despite
strained relations with Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine.
Fault for the last two satellites being set in the incorrect
orbit after their launch from the European space center in
French Guyana was placed on a defect in a Russian-built module.
An official at the European Commission, which oversees the
program, said the EU executive was tendering for insurance cover
for future satellites and had set up an insurance scheme for the
launches.
Hitherto, satellites and launches have been uninsured to keep
down costs on a project dogged by delays, money problems and
questions over the need for a European alternative to GPS. China
and Russia are also working on systems.
Friday's launch from Kourou is scheduled for 1746 EDT. If
successful, it will bring to eight the number of Galileo
satellites deployed out of a planned total of 30. The two
launched in August have since been nudged into viable orbits and
are fit for use, a spokesman for the European Space Agency said.
That cost several million euros and the Commission is expected
to decide next month whether to make use of those two -- a
decision that would require further spending to adapt equipment
on the ground to cope with their new orbit routes.
Two further two-satellite launches are planned this year, making
it possible to put the Galileo system into partial service next
year. Full service is planned for 2020.
(Editing by Alastair Macdonald and Mark Potter)
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